UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA. 


OK 


/          V 

Received  M^2A<Us 

Accession  No.  /66~6~~/       -    cliUS  No' 


9I.S80  OA 


With  the  Compliments  of        - 


Qs. 


548    WEST    PARK    STREET, 

DORCHESTER,   MASS. 


PLEASE  ACKNOWLEDGE  RECEIPT. 


Engraved  iy  H.W.  Smith 


HISTORY 


OF 


THE  HOPEDALE  COMMUNITY, 


FROM     ITS     INCEPTION     TO     ITS     VIRTUAL     SUB- 
MERGENCE    IN    THE     HOPEDALE     PARISH. 


BY  ADIN   BALLOU. 


WILLIAM    S.  HEYWOOD,  EDITOR. 


"  It  seemed  good  to  me,  having  had  perfect  understanding  of  all 
things  from  the  very  first,  to  write." — Luke  i:  j. 


LOWELL,   MASS.: 

THOMPSON  &  HILL.  —  THE  Vox  POPULI  PRESS. 
1897. 


INTRODUCTION. 


THIS  volume  is  the  second  in  the  list  of  those  prepared  by 
the  author  and  left  in  manuscript  at  the  time  of  his 
decease,  with  definite  instructions  in  regard  to  their  publica- 
tion. It  contains  the  story  of  an  undertaking  with  which  his 
name  was  more  closely  identified  than  that  of  any  other  per- 
son, to  which  he  devoted  the  best  years  of  his  life,  and  for 
which,  out  of  a  disinterested  desire  to  promote  the  well-being 
and  happiness  of  his  fellow-men,  he  was  willing  to  "both 
labor  and  suffer  reproach."  Its  acknowledged  Founder  and 
the  Framer  of  its  Constitutional  polity,  acquainted  with  all  its 
members  and  familiar  with  its  methods  of  operation  through- 
out its  entire  career,  he,  above  all  others,  was  qualified  to  be 
its  historiographer  and  its  ambassador  to  coming  generations. 
Let  his  record  and  testimony  concerning  it  be  read,  appre- 
ciated, and  honored  accordingly. 

That  undertaking  can  be  fully  understood  and  its  signifi- 
cance justly  estimated  only  by  considering  the  circumstances 
under  which  it  was  projected  and  the  relation  it  sustained  to 
certain  great  currents  of  thought  and  conduct  prevailing  in 
the  general  community  at  the  time  when  it  first  claimed  the 
attention  of  philanthropists  and  the  public  at  large.  Such 
consideration  will  give  it  the  proper  perspective  and  assign  it 
to  its  rightful  place  in  the  order  of  human  events  and  in  the 
work  of  benefiting  and  blessing  mankind. 

The  decade  of  United  States  history  beginning  with  the 
year  1840  was  characterized,  as  intimated  on  a  succeeding 
page,  by  an  unprecedented  manifestation  among  the  people  at 
large  of  that  "enthusiasm  for  humanity"  out  of  which  great 
moral  reforms  chiefly  spring  and  all  endeavors  for  the  ameliora- 
tion of  the  condition  of  the  suffering  masses  of  men,  and 
for  the  betterment  of  the  world.  It  was  during  the  early  por- 


IV  THE   HOPEDALE   COMMUNITY. 

tion  of  that  period  that  the  so-called  Washingtonian  movement 
went  sweeping  through  the  country,  redeeming  multitudes 
from  the  thraldom  of  the  inebriating  cup  and  giving  fresh 
impulse  to  the  cause  of  Temperance,  of  which  it  was  a  most 
effective  and  inspiring  phase.  The  Anti-Slavery  conflict,  in 
its  moral  aspect,  was  at  the  same  time  rising  into  commanding 
importance,  enlisting  the  friends  of  freedom  throughout  the 
North  in  uncompromising  resistance  to  the  aggressions  of  the 
slave-power,  and  so  preparing  the  way  for  and  making  possible 
that  memorable  edict  of  twenty  years  later  which  proclaimed 
"  liberty  throughout  all  the  land  to  all  the  inhabitants  thereof."' 
Under  new  and  enthusiastic  leadership  the  barbarism  of  the 
gigantic  war  system  was  exposed,  and  the  claims  of  the  cause 
of  Peace  were  urged,  with  a  persistency  and  to  an  extent 
unknown  before.  Moreover,  it  was  during  that  period  that  the 
question  of  the  higher  education,  the  larger  opportunity,  and 
the  more  complete  enfranchisement  of  woman,  not  only  began 
to  be  discussed  but  assumed  organic  form,  thereby  inaugurat- 
ing a  work  of  justice  and  beneficence  the  already  achieved 
results  of  which  constitute  one  of  the  marvels  of  this  marvel- 
producing  nineteenth  century.  Other  reforms,  providing  for 
the  abolition  of  capital  punishment,  the  improvement  of 
prisons  and  prison  discipline,  the  prevention  of  crime  and 
poverty,  etc.,  were  also  agitated  with  unparallelled  energy  and 
zeal,  and  received  a  wide  and  hospitable  hearing. 

It  was  early  in  the  same  decade  and  under  the  same  phil- 
anthropic impulse  that  numerous  evils  pertaining  to  the 
existing  order  of  society  arrested  widespread  attention,  sug- 
gesting to  generous  and  noble  minds  the  inquiry  whether 
something  might  not  be  done  to  remedy  them  —  to  eliminate 
them  from  the  realm  of  human  life  and  put  them  forever 
away.  It  was  seen  and  felt  upon  careful  observation  and 
study  that  many  of  these  evils  were  not  merely  incidental  to 
the  established  social  system  —  not  simply  defects  or  excres- 
cences that  would  be  overcome  or  outgrown  with  the  lapse 
of  time  and  by  the  ordinary  processes  of  human  development^ 
but  that  they  were  organic,  wrought  into  and  forming  an 
inherent  part  of  the  social  structure  itself,  and  therefore  to 
be  exterminated  only  by  reorganizing  that  structure  —  by 
devising  and  putting  in  operation  an  essentially  new  order  of 
society  based  upon  and  governed  by  higher  and  more  equita- 


INTRODUCTION.  V 

ble  principles  than  the  old,  and  relieved  of  those  features  and 
peculiarities  which  rendered  the  old  system  detrimental  to  the 
well-being  of  vast  numbers  of  people  and  hence  worthy  of 
condemnation.  Then  came,  as  a  logical  and  practical  result 
of  this  view  of  the  matter,  the  work  of  so-called  Social  Reform ; 
experiments  in  the  reconstruction  of  the  social  order,  efforts 
to  solve  the  problem  of  human  society  in  the  light  of  reason 
and  religion,  and  according  to  the  dictates  of  a  broad  and 
generous  humanity.  As  Emerson  in  hyberbolic  rhetoric  wrote 
to  Carlyjle  in  the  autumn  of  1840,  "We  are  all  a  little  wild 
here  with  numberless  projects  of  social  reform.  Not  a  read- 
ing man  but  has  a  draft  of  a  new  community  in  his  waist- 
coat pocket." 

Within  a  very  few  years  not  less  than  sixty  of  these  efforts 
or  experiments,  under  the  general  name  of  Communities,  were 
entered  upon,  and  systematically  operated  in  different  parts  of 
the  country.  Most  of  them  were  projected  and  carried  for- 
ward on  essentially  economical  grounds ;  being  designed  chiefly 
to  insure  relief  from  the  rivalries  and  competitions  of  indus- 
trial and  commercial  life  by  which  multitudes  of  human  beings 
are  brought  to  penury  and  wretchedness,  to  establish  more 
just  and  harmonious  relations  between  the  employer  and  the 
employed,  and  to  unite  in  the  bonds  of  mutual  co-operation 
and  helpfulness  all  classes  and  conditions  of  people.  Others 
were  more  largely  of  an  educational  character  and  made  the 
matter  of  intellectual  training  and  superior  culture  a  promi- 
nent if  not  the  crowning  feature  of  their  polity.  While  a  few 
were  distinctively  religious  in  their  inception,  form  of  organi- 
zation, and  methods  of  administration.  All  professed  a  stead- 
fast devotion  to  high  ethical  principles,  and  sought  to  maintain  a 
lofty  standard  of  personal  character  and  social  righteousness, 
and  all  claimed  to  be  inspired  by  a  desire  and  purpose  to 
benefit  mankind  in  some  definite,  practical,  effective  way. 

The  Hopedale  Community  was  distinctively  and  emphatically 
a  religious  movement.  In  all  essential  respects  it  was  the 
outcome  or  product  of  the  religion  of  the  New  Testament. 
The  first  idea  of  it  was  generated  by  a  reverent  and  pains- 
taking study  of  the  teachings  of  Jesus,  and  by  a  conscientious 
purpose  to  make  such  teachings  the  ruling  forces  of  thought 
and  conduct  in  all  the  manifold  concerns  of  life.  It  was 
founded  in  a  spirit  of  loyalty  to  Christianity,  and  that  spirit 


VI  THE   HOPEDALE   COMMUNITY. 

characterized  the  administration  of  its  affairs  from  the  begin- 
ning to  the  end  of  its  history.  As  stated  in  the  opening  sen- 
tence of  the  body  of  this  work,  "  The  Hopedale  Community  was 
a  systematic  attempt  to  establish  an  order  of  Human  Society 
based  upon  the  sublime  ideas  of  the  Fatherhood  of  God  and  the 
brotherhood  of  man  as  taught  and  illustrated  in  the  Gospel  of 
Jesus  Christ";  an  attempt  to  actualize  in  this  present  world 
under  the  limitations  of  time  and  sense  the  Scripture  idea  of 
a  kingdom  of  God  on  earth. 

Though  organized  in  accordance  with  the  provisions  of  a 
carefully  prepared  Constitution  and  governed  in  its  various 
activities  by  formally  adopted  Rules  and  Regulations,  it  was 
in  no  proper  sense  a  scheme  for  uplifting  and  saving  men  by 
external  restrictions  and  expedients,  or  a  device  for  bringing 
in  the  millenneum  by  a  skilfully  contrived  set  of  machinery. 
The  problem  it  endeavored  to  solve  was  not  whether  men 
could  be  made  personally  what  they  ought  to  be  and  be 
brought  into  fraternal  relations  with  each  other  by  a  just  and 
happy  environment,  or  whether  society  could  be  regenerated 
by  an  ingeniously  formulated  plan,  outward  conformity  to 
which  would  serve  humanity's  need.  Not  at  all.  But  whether 
men  believing  in  Christianity,  avowing  faith  in  the  principles 
and  precepts  of  the  New  Testament,  and  professing  to  be 
actuated  by  the  spirit  of  the  Prince  of  Peace,  could  and  should 
make  those  principles  and  precepts  and  that  spirit  dominant 
in  all  social  and  civil  relations  and  concerns  as  well  as  in  all 
individual  acts  and  responsibilities.  It  rested  and  urged  its 
claims  on  the  assumption  that  ( the  legitimate  outcome  and 
fruitage  of  Christianity  is  a  •  regenerated  state  of  society  as 
well  as  a  regenerated  personal  character,  •  and  that  its  true 
disciples  ought  to  unite  their  energies  anef  resources  in  estab- 
lishing a  form  of  social  life  which  should  illustrate  the  great 
idea  of  human  brotherhood,  rather  than  in  upholding  and 
supporting  one  under  which  that  idea  is  systematically  ignored 
or  thrust  aside  as  a  rhetorical  generality  or  iridescent  dream, 
pleasant  to  rhapsodize  about  but  utterly  impracticable  in  this 
mundane  world.  In  this  assumption  may  be  found  the  reason 
for  its  existence  and  the  ground  on  which  it  made  its  appeal 
for  respectable  consideration  to  all  philanthropic  and  noble 
men  and  women,  whetrler  living  in  its  own  day  or  in  subse- 
quent periods  of  human  history. 


INTRODUCTION.  vii 

It  may  be  questioned,  perhaps,  whether  this  endeavor  to 
reconstruct  the  complicated  fabric  of  human  society  and 
initiate  the  transcendant  work  of  social  regeneration  will  ever 
be  repeated,  especially  in  the  exact  form  in  which  it  appeared 
at  Hopedale,  or  in  the  form  outlined  in  the  elaborate  "Con- 
stitution of  the  Practical  Christian  Republic"  with  which  this 
volume  closes;  whether  the  divine  kingdom  will  come  by  the 
particular  processes  and  methods  described  in  the  following 
pages.  But  that  the  existing  system  of  society  is  not  to  last 
forever  is  in  the  writer's  mind  beyond  all  question  or  per- 
adventure;  a  system  characterized  by  incessant  rivalries  and 
conflicting  interests,  by  artificial  class  distinctions  and  fierce 
antagonisms,  by  glaring  extremes  of  wealth  and  poverty,  of 
ease  and  slavish  toil,  of  luxury  and  want,  of  happiness  and 
misery,  by  manifold  nurseries  of  iniquity,  degradation,  and 
shame,  by  gigantic  military  establishments,  and  vast  enginery 
for  slaughtering  men  and  multiplying  the  sorrows  of  the 
world.  That  such  a  system,  in  so  many  ways  hostile  to  the 
essential  spirit  and  principles  of  the  Christian  Religion,  and 
to  the  unquestionable  primal  purpose  of  a  wise  and  good  God, 
has  no  guaranty  for  the  future,  is  no  finality,  but  must  some 
day  be  superseded  by  one  wherein  equity,  fraternity,  co-opera- 
tion, harmony  shall  be  in  the  ascendant,  is  assured  by  the 
highest  conclusions  of  reason,  the  best  aspirations  of  the 
human  heart,  the  inherent  possibilities  of  the  nature  of  man, 
the  prophetic  intimations  of  the  seers  of  all  ages,  and  the 
cheering  promises  of  the  Gospel  of  Christ.  And  when  this 
sublime  consummation  is  reached  it  will  only  be  a  realization 
of  the  comprehensive  idea  that  took  form  and  found  expression 
in  The  Hopedale  Community;  the  fulfillment  of  the  distin- 
guishing purpose  that  animated  the  breasts  and  prompted  the 
labors  of  the  men  and  women  who  composed  its  membership 
and  gave  it  a  name  worthy  of  preservation  and  of  transmission 
to  coming  generations. 

Of  the  more  than  sixty  Communities  referred  to  on  a  former 
page,  not  one,  so  for  as  is  known,  now  remains.  Hopedale 
was  one  of  the  first  to  be  organized  and  started  on  its  experi- 
mental way,  and  one  of  the  last  to  be  finally  abandoned.  The 
incipient  steps  leading  to  its  formation  were  taken  with  no 
knowledge,  on  the  part  of  those  concerned,  of  the  fact  that 
similar  projects  were  contemplated  even  not  far  away  by  other 


Vlll  THE  HOPEDALE   COMMUNITY. 

laborers  in  the  same  field  of  practical  reform-  It  preserved 
from  first  to  last  a  comparatively  independent  and  isolated 
position,  doing  its  own  recognized  work  in  its  own  way.  Soon 
after  organizing,  however,  it  was  brought  into  an  acquaintance 
with  several  of  its  contemporaries.  The  relations  between 
them  and  itself  were  of  a  most  friendly  and  harmonious  char- 
acter, though  it  differed  from  them  in  what  were  regarded  as 
important  details,  either  of  organic  form  or  methods  of  opera- 
tion. But  this  was  no  obstacle  to  sympathetic  interest,  mutual 
respect,  and  kindly  feeling  on  either  hand. 

The  entire  membership  of  the  Community  was  composed  of 
about  two  hundred  persons.  Of  these  only  some  twenty  are 
known  to  be  living,  six  or  eight  of  them  remaining  on  what 
was  formerly  the  domain  of  the  Association,  the  others  being 
more  or  less  widely  separated  therefrom.  Of  the  thirty-two 
men  and  women  who  put  their  names  to  the  original  Consti- 
tution on  the  27th  of  January,  1841,  only  two,  it  is  believed, 
are  still  in  the  flesh;  William  W.  Cook,  now  of  New  York 
city,  and  Rev.  William  H.  Fish,  who  has  recently  removed 
from  the  vicinity  of  Boston  to  Colorado  Springs  in  the  state 
of  Colorado.  After  leaving  Hopedale  he  spent  a  few  years  in 
Central  New  York  as  general  missionary,  then  returned  to 
South  Scituate  (Norwell),  Mass.,  where  he  was  more  than 
twenty  years  the  active  and  highly  esteemed  Pastor  of  the 
First  Parish,  in  the  fellowship  of  the  Unitarian  branch  of  the 
Christian  Church.  Since  leaving  there  he  has  resided  with 
his  son,  Rev.  Wm.  H.  Fish,  Jr.,  at  Dedham,  Mass.  He  is  now 
in  the  86th  year  of  his  age,  vigorous  and  interested  still  in 
all  good  causes,  widely  known  and  as  widely  beloved. 

The  Founder  of  the  Community  and  author  of  this  work, 
Adin  Ballou,  continued  to  reside  at  Hopedale  unto  the  end  of 
his  mortal  pilgrimage.  He  served  the  Community  as  its  lead- 
ing minister  while  it  retained  organic  existence,  and  when  it 
was  submerged  in  The  Hopedale  Parish  he  was  elected  Pastor 
of  that  body,  a  position  which  he  occupied  until  he  completed 
the  77th  year  of  his  age,  April  23,  1880,  having  been  active 
in  his  chosen  profession  nearly  sixty  years.  Subsequently  to 
this  date  he  was  accustomed  to  answer  occasional  calls  to 
preach  in  the  vicinity,  but  more  frequent  ones  to  officiate  on 
funeral  occasions  and  at  the  marriage  altar.  During  the  later 
years  of  his  life  he  was  much  engaged  in  literary  work  of  a 


INTRODUCTION.  IX 

varied  character.  A  voluminous  "  History  of  the  Town  of 
Milford"  was  prepared  by  him,  and  published  in  1884;  also 
an  elaborate  "History  of  the  Ballous  in  America"  some  four 
years  later.  In  addition  to  these,  he  wrote  an  Autobiography 
which  appeared  in  print  a  year  ago;  also  the  present  volume, 
and  others  in  manuscript  awaiting  publication.  A  considerable 
collection  of  miscellaneous  writings  in  exposition  of  his  views 
upon  religious,  moral,  and  philanthropic  subjects,  the  product 
of  his  pen  since  the  dissolution  of  the  Community,  testifies  to 
his  tireless  industry  and  to  the  intensity  of  his  devotion  to 
those  aims  and  pursuits  which  were  dear  to  his  heart,  and 
which  engaged  his  thoughts  and  energies  through  a  long  and 
active  life.  He  died  on  the  5th  of  August,  1890,  aged  87  years, 
3  months,  and  13  days.  He  was  a  man  of  commanding  bodily 
presence,  of  superior  intellectual  ability,  of  generous  and  genial 
social  qualities,  and  of  a  character  above  reproach  and  without 
guile.  An  agreeable  companion,  an  earnest  philanthropist  and 
uncompromising  reformer,  an  able  and  impressive  public 
speaker,  a  devoted  disciple  of  Jesus  Christ,  he  lived  to  make 
the  world  better,  and  died  steadfast  in  the  faith  that  ulti- 
mately a  divine  order  of  society  would  be  established  among 
men  according  to  his  long-cherished  ideal,  and  that  so  the 
divine  kingdom  would  at  length  come  and  the  will  of  God  be 
done  on  earth  as  it  is  in  heaven. 

It  may  be  stated  that  the  steel  engraving  of  the  author 
fronting  the  title  page  was  copied  from  a  photograph  taken 
about  the  year  1854,  and  represents  him  as  he  was  in  the 
ripeness  of  middle  life,  when  the  Community  was  passing 
through  its  most  prosperous  days,  and  when  he  was  most 
diligently  employed  in  prosecuting  his  labors  as  an  apostle  of 
Practical  Christian  Socialism. 

As  this  book  is  sent  out  into  the  world  it  is  commended 
to  the  candid  and  thoughtful  consideration  of  the  ever-increasing 
number  of  those  who  are  interested  in  the  well-being  of  their 
fellow-men,  and  in  all  efforts  to  improve  their  condition  and 
enable  them  to  get  the  best  and  the  most  possible  out  of  the 
life  that  has  been  given  them.  Also  of  all  students  of  social 
problems,  who,  seeing  the  manifold  evils  that  pertain  to  the 
existing  order  of  society,  are  seeking  conscientiously  and  ear- 
nestly for  some  means  and  methods  whereby  that  order  may 
be  transformed  into  or  superseded  by  a  reign  of  righteous- 


X  THE   HOPEDALE   COMMUNITY. 

ness,  justice,  equity,  brotherly-kindness,  charity.  By  imparting 
some  light,  encouragement,  inspiration  to  such,  and  to  all 
workers  for  human  good  and  happiness  who  may  read  the 
narrative  it  contains,  it  is  hoped  that  it  will  contribute  some- 
what to  the  solution  of  the  great  question  of  Social  Reform 
and  to  the  furtherance  of  the  praiseworthy  objects  for  the 
promotion  of  which  The  Hopedale  Community  was  devised 
and  established. 

WILLIAM  S.   HEYWOOD. 
Boston,  Oct.  26,  1897. 


NOTE.  — For  the  benefit  of  those  readers  of  this  volume  who  may  desire 
to  know  something  of  what  transpired  at  Hopedale  subsequently  to  the 
date  when  the  narrative  herein  contained  closes,  and  of  the  present 
status  of  the  place,  a  brief  statement  relating  thereto  seems  desirable 
and  is  therefore  appended. 

The  material  prosperity  referred  to  in  the  closing  chapters  has  con- 
tinued, with  but  slight  modifications,  to  this  day.  The  brothers,  Eben- 
ezer  D.  and  George  Draper,  to  whom  the  bulk  of  the  Community  property 
was  transferred,  were  men  of  unusual  enterprise,  business  ability,  and 
perseverence  in  executing  their  plans.  Moreover,  they  had  the  control 
of  a  fortunate  line  of  manufacture,  and  knew  how  to  manage  it  to  the 
best  advantage.  Upon  that  they  concentrated  all  their  energies  and 
resources.  The  less  productive  branches  of  industry  received  from  the 
Community,  they  cut  off  and  set  up  new  ones  tributary  to  their  special 
work.  They  called  into  their  partnership,  or  made  their  coadjutors, 
persons  from  elsewhere  of  inventive  genius  and  capital.  They  multi- 
plied their  facilities  for  production,  brought  out  and  purchased  valuable 
patents,  and  rose  rapidly  to  eminence  in  their  particular  calling.  Their 
associates  and  successors,  men  of  like  capability  and  spirit,  prosecuted 
to  more  signal  issues  the  combined  activities  so  auspiciously  begun,  and 
so  admirably  fitted  for  their  appropriate  service. 

Corresponding  results  appeared  outside.  The  population  increased, 
new  dwellings  sprung  up,  the  village  grew  in  size  and  attractiveness. 
Public  improvements  were  introduced;  water,  gas,  macadamized  streets, 
and  a  host  of  minor  necessaries,  comforts,  and  luxuries.  At  length  the 
idea  of  an  incorporated  township  took  possession  of  the  leading  minds, 
assuming  definite  form  in  the  spring  of  1885  and  reaching  its  culmination 
a  year  afterward,  April  7, 1886.  So  that  Hopedale  now,  composed  of  the 
original  Community  Domain  and  much  contiguous  territory,  with  the 
inhabitants  thereon,  numbering  1000  persons  more  or  less,  constitutes 
one  of  the  most  active,  prosperous,  beautiful  municipalities  in  the  Com- 
monwealth of  Massachusetts. 


PREFACE. 


I  HAVE  assumed  the  labor  and  responsibility  of  writing  this 
History  of  The  Hopedale  Community  for  the  following 
reasons:  1.  Because  the  fundamental  principles  and  objects 
represented  in  the  undertaking  bearing  that  name  were  in 
themselves  pre-eminently  good,  conducive  to  the  welfare  of 
mankind,  and  worthy  of  lasting  commemoration.  2.  Because 
I  confidently  believe  that  the  said  Community  in  its  essential 
features  will  have  a  resurrection  at  no  distant  day  and  be 
honored  as  the  progenitor  of  numerous  kindred  institutions  — 
less  imperfect,  better  conditioned,  and  far  more  successful. 
3.  Because  the  story  of  its  merits,  defects,  and  varied  experiences 
will  enlighten  a  multitude  of  ingenuous,  beneficently-animated 
minds,  stimulate  similar  enterprises,  and  afford  valuable  instruc- 
tion for  the  guidance  of  those  engaged  in  them.  4.  Because 
I  was  its  chief  projector,  its  first  President  and  leading  repre- 
sentative throughout  its  entire  career,  and  am  now  the  principal 
mourner  over  the  irretrievable  disaster  that  terminated  its 
existence;  as  I  am  also  custodian  of  its  records  and  of  all  the 
data  pertaining  to  it.  5.  Because  I  have  been  prompted  and 
encouraged  to  the  performance  of  the  task  by  sympathizing 
and  trustworthy  friends. 

The  great  masses  of  people  are  not  yet  sufficiently  indoc- 
trinated and  established  in  pure  Christian  ethics  —  not  yet 
raised  to  a  sufficiently  elevated  moral  and  spiritual  plane  of 
thought  and  conduct  to  care  much  about  the  rise  or  fall  of 
such  Communities  as  the  one  whose  annals  the  present  volume 
enshrines  aspired  to  be,  and  can  scarcely  conceive  the  possi- 
bility of  any  higher  order  of  human  society  than  that  illustrated 
in  the  existing  civilization  of  the  general  community  to  which 
they  belong.  Even  the  more  advanced  classes  in  church  and 
state,  seeking  the  progress,  the  harmony,  and  happiness  of 
mankind,  propose  little  if  anything  more  than  the  gradual 


Xll  THE   HOPEDALE   COMMUNITY. 

improvement  of  society  on  the  old  basis  of  egoism,  caste  dis- 
tinctions, competitive  rivalry,  shrewd  and  cunning  practices, 
jealousy  and  hatred  of  race  and  nation,  and  dernier  resorts  to 
violence  and  deadly  force.  Such  must  be  expected  to  ignore, 
underestimate,  contemn,  or,  at  best,  pity  all  such  attempts  to 
benefit  and  bless  the  world  as  that  embodied  in  the  Hopedale 
Community.  If  they  notice  their  appearance  at  all  it  is  only 
to  decry  the  folly  of  them  and  predict  their  failure,  and  when 
failure  comes  they  complacently  and  rejoicingly  exclaim:  "We 
told  you  so." 

There  is,  however,  in  the  world  at  large  a  small  but,  I  have 
reason  to  feel,  a  continually  increasing  number  of  morally 
illumined  and  noble  minds  who  see  farther  into  the  nature  of 
things  and  into  the  causes  of  misrule  and  misery,  who  aspire 
after  a  radically  more  fraternal  form  of  social  life  and  under- 
stand in  some  good  degree  what  is  needed  to  insure  it,  and 
who  are  groping  after  some  practical  and  efficient  method  or 
system  of  operations  by  which  it  may  be  actualized.  From 
these  there  is  much  to  hope.  Sooner  or  later  they  will  find 
what  they  seek,  and  their  most  ardent  longings — the  travail 
of  their  souls  will  be  satisfied;  but  their  search  will  no  doubt 
be  long  and  their  gratification  be  deferred  to  a  somewhat 
remote  future.  It  is  my  wish  in  this  narrative  and  other 
similar  writings  to  contribute  what  I  can  to  the  accomplish- 
ment of  the  greatly-to-be-desired  result.  If  God  has  entrusted 
me  with  any  distinctive  mission  on  earth,  it  is  to  aid  in  show- 
ing my  fellowmen  the  way  into  that  Christ-like  order  of  social 
life  which  shall  illustrate  in  marked  degree  the  great  ideas  of 
the  Fatherhood  of  God  and  the  brotherhood  of  man.  I  would, 
at  least,  be  among  the  harbingers  and  heralds  of  communal 
harmony  and  blessedness,  even  though  I  should  seem  only  to 
re-echo  "  The  voice  of  one  crying  in  the  wilderness,  *  Prepare 
ye  the  way  of  the  Lord ! '  " 

I  fondly  and  confidently  trust  that  my  testimonies  in  this 
volume  and  elsewhere  will,  under  the  sheltering  care  and 
kindly  providence  of  my  heavenly  Father,  be  as  "  good  seed, 
falling,"  in  some  cases  at  least,  "  upon  good  ground,"  and 
bringing  forth  fruit  accordingly.  But  I  am  now  too  far 
advanced  in  life,  being  more  than  seventy-three  years  of  age,  to 
behold  any  harvest  therefrom  in  the  flesh.  Nevertheless,  it  will 
come  in  its  season,  not  by  any  sudden  and  startling  transfor- 


PREFACE.  xiii 

mation,  not  by  the  literal  and  visible  letting  down  of  a  new 
Jerusalem  out  of  heaven,  but  according  to  the  laws  of  pro- 
gressive development  and  growth  in  the  divine  kingdom,  "first 
the  blade,  then  the  ear,  then  the  full  corn  in  the  ear."  And 
as  I  am  divinely  assured  of  a  spiritual  and  immortal  life  in 
unseen  realms  of  being,  I  expect  to  rejoice  with  the  reapers 
when  "the  good  time  coming"  shall  appear,  however  distant 
that  blissful  consummation  may  be.  Then  the  truth  of  the 
poet's  couplet  will  be  realized  in  my  own  experience: 

"  The  blest  to-day  is  as  completely  so 
As  who  began  a  thousand  years  ago." 

The  reader  will  find  in  the  consecutive  chapters  of  this 
work  a  truthful  and  sufficiently  minute  account  of  The  Hope- 
dale  Community  and  its  manifold  affairs  from  the  very 
beginning  through  all  its  intervening  stages  to  its  final  sub- 
mergence in  the  organization  denominated  and  known  to  this 
day  as  The  Hopedale  Parish.  "  Whoso  readeth,  let  him  under- 
stand," and  be  profited  thereby. 

ADIN  BALLOU. 
Hopedale,  Mass.,  August  5,  1876. 


TABLE  OF  CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  I. 

The  Hopedale  Community  and  its  origin  —  Religious  position  of  its 
Founder— The  Restorationist  Association  and  its  two  wings  — The 
Progressives  — Standard  of  Practical  Christianity  — Its  reception  — 
Germination  and  growth  of  the  Community  Idea  —  A  Peculiar 
People  —  Arrayed  against  existing  society  —  Three  fundamental 
objections  — What  was  to  be  done— New  wine  must  be  put  in  new 
bottles  —  Another  important  consideration  —  An  organ  started  — 
First  public  utterance  concerning  Communities  —  Important  fea- 
t-ires noted  — Obstacles— Inquiries  — Memorable  decade  of  American 
history  —  Experiments  in  social  re-organization— The  one  at  Hope- 
dale  unique  and  independent  — Overtures  between  it  and  Brook 
Farm  — Rapid  advance  towards  practical  results  — Plan  of  organiza- 
tion adopted  —  Formation  of  Fraternal  Community  No.  1 1-37 

CHAPTER  II. 

First  Community  meeting  —  Provisional  Committee  chosen  and  its 
duties  prescribed  — Constitution  and  a  detailed  Exposition  published 
and  widely  circulated  — Response  from  the  general  public  —  Letters 
of  inquiry,  sympathy,  and  encouragement  received  —  Also  of  admo- 
nition, warning,  and  scornful  rebuke  — Significant  one  from  Rev. 
William  Ellery  Channing,  D.  D.  -  Attitude  of  clergy  generally  — 
Rev.  Paul  Dean's  dissent  — Second  Community  meeting  — Complete 
organization  affected  — Rev.  David  R.  Lamson  on  Communities  — 
Third  Community  meeting  — Important  report  of  Executive  Coun- 
cil—Resolves and  By-Laws  passed  — Farm  purchased  for  a  Commu- 
nity Domain  — Name  given  it  — Pecuniary  resources— First  Annual 
meeting— The  outlook  — Settlement  at  Hopedale  — Getting  Started  — 
Enthusiastic  religious  services  — The  Community  an  established 
fact 38-69 

CHAPTER  III. 

Reflections  —  Test  of  fitness  for  Community  life  —  State  of  affairs 
April  1,  1S42  —  Diversity  of  habits,  manners,  tastes,  etc.  among 
settlers — The  children  —  Limited  accommodations  —  Superintendence 
of-  domestic  concerns  —  False  prophecies  concerning  the  women  — 
Common  fraternal  level  —  Journal  of  Community  life  —  Fast  day, 
with  Fredrick  Douglass  as  guest —  Building  for  schoolroom,  printing 
office,  etc.  — Douglass  in  Milford  — Compensation  of  mothers  — Indue- 


XV  THE    HOPEDALE    COMMUNITY. 

tive  Conferences  —  Greatness  of  the  undertaking  —  Resources  and 
energies  overtaxed  —  Elements  of  unrest  revealed  —  Annoying  and 
inauspicious  discussions  started — Case  of  personal  inharmony  — 
First  withdrawals  — Eccentricities  of  Rev.  D.  R.  Lamson  — Hostility 
to  existing  polity  developed  — A  crisis  reached  — The  Constitution 
amended  — Consequences  thereof  —  The  Shakers  glorified  — .Discour- 
agements and  e?icouragernents  —  Second  Annual  meeting 70-105 

CHAPTER  IV. 

Separate  households  established  —  Dwelling-houses  erected  —  Industrial 
operations  —  Religion,  Morals,  and  Missions  provided  for  —  Mechanic 
shop  built  and  occupied  —  Community  barns  consolidated  and 
improved  —  Hopedale  street  constructed  —  A  combined  School-house 
and  Chapel  projected  —  Gift  of  Andrew  H.  Ernst,  Cincinnati,  Ohio  — 
Cordial  relations  with  other  Communities  —  Property  Convention  in 
Boston  —  Social  Reform  Conventions  in  divers  places  —  Social  Reform 
Journals  started  —  Religious  and  Missionary  activities  — Case  of  out- 
side depredation  —  Birthdays  celebrated  —  Financial  summary  of 
1843  — The  Village  Site  denned  and  its  streets  and  squares  laid  out 
and  named  — The  Community  Domain  enlarged  and  new  dwellings 
erected  — School  matters  — Associational  Conferences  at  Hopedale 
and  Northampton  — Individualism  checked  — Conditions  and  pros- 
pects  106-140 

CHAPTER  V. 

Change  of  industrial  policy  beset  with  difficulties  — Rosetta  HalJ  — The 
Hopedale  Cemetery  —  Visit  of  the  celebrated  English  Communist, 
Robert  Owen  —  Estimate  of  the  man  and  his  work  —  Regretted  with, 
drawal  of  Rev.  G.  W.  Stacy  —  Spirit  of  Annual  Meeting,  1846  — 
Anticipations  not  realized  —  Weak  places  in  industrial  manage- 
ment—Sickness and  bereavement  — Signs  of  promise  — Co-operation 
in  business  affairs  encouragnd  —  Personal  peculiarities  cause  annoy- 
ance and  hinder  progress  — Retirement  of  Joseph  Kingman  a  serious 
loss  —  Elements  of  dissatisfaction  effervescing  —  Serious  results 
threatened  but  prevented  by  adopting  a  new  Constitution —  Name 
of  Community  Changed —  Organization  under  the  new  regime  com- 
pleted—Improvements going  on  — Complaints  on  account  of  flow- 
age— A  Juvenile  Community— Hopedale  a  School  District —Annual 
meeting,  1848 141-176 

CHAPTER   VI. 

Constitutional  guaranty  re-affirmed  —  Provision  for  Education— The  Com- 
munity School  under  Abbie  S.  Ballou  — Amusements —  May-day  and 
Christmas  Festivals  —  Industrial  annoyances  and  vexations  —  Meet- 
ings for  Christian  discipline  and  improvement  —  Lay  preaching —  The 
Practical  Christian  Ministry  —  Inductive  Communions  —  Quarterly  Con- 
ferences—  Mail  facilities  —  Community  Lyceum  —  Beautifying  the  vil- 
lage—  Proper  care  of  children  enjoined  —  Industrial  Army  organized 
—  Purchase  of  additional  lands — Community  Treasury  constituted  a 
Savings  Bank  —  Hopedale  Collection  of  Hymns  published  —  Action 
concerning  alien  employes  and  others  —  Council  of  Religion,  etc., 


TABLE   OF    CONTENTS.  XVI 

appointed  —  Withdrawal  of  Rev.  D.  S.  Whitney  — The  Hopedale  Water 
Cure  Establishment  — Rectification  of  land  titles  — Prevailing  feeling 
at  the  opening  of  1851 177-211 

CHAPTER    VII. 

Provision  against  future  deficits  -  M.  Etienne  Cabet  and  the  Icarian 
Community  at  Nauvoo,  111.  — The  Community  made  an  Insurance 
Company  — Enactment  respecting  Industry,  Purveyance  and  Trade  — 
Prospectus  of  the  Hopedale  Educational  Home  —  Adin  Agustus 
Ballou  —  Universal  prosperity  prevailing  —  Annual  Meeting,  1852  — 
Valedictory  Address  of  the  first  President  and  Response  — Widely 
lamented  death  of  A.  A.  Ballou  — New  School  of  Social  Philosophy 
under  Stephen  Pearl  Andrews  —  Modern  Times  —  Raritan  Bay 
Union  — New  Community  proposed  and  aid  solicited  — Tragic  Death 
of  Dr.  Butler  Wilmarth  — A  Free  Love  episode  and  case  of  marital 
infidelity  — Community  action  occasioned  thereby —  President's  Ad- 
dress at  Annual  Meeting,  1854— Report  of  Council  of  Religion,  Con- 
ciliation and  Justice 212-252 

CHAPTER    VIII. 

Palmy  days  of  Community  history  —  Extracts  from  The  Practical  Christian 
—  General  outlook  for  Social  Reform  auspicious  —  Significant  article 
in  N.  Y.  Independent  —  Sermon  of  Rev.  J.  S.  Dennis  —  Plan  of  a  com- 
prehensive Communal  Confederacy  formulated — Complete  Exposition 
of  the  system  published  in  a  large  volume,  entitled  "  Practical  Chris- 
tian Socialism" — Spirit  of  propagandism  and  expansion  rising  —  New 
Communities  in  the  West  proposed  —  West  India  Emancipation  cele- 
brated and  a  prophetic  resolution  passed  —  The  Hopedale  Home 
School  —  Fourteenth  Annual  Meeting  and  its  encouraging  Reports  — 
Contingent  Fund  or  Bank  of  Exchange  established  — Missionary  oper- 
ations enlarged  — Rev.  Wm.  H.  Fish  in  Central  New  York— Hopedale 
from  the  outside  — The  Western  Movement  materialized— A  Commune 
formed  — Annual  Meeting,  1856 —  Address  of  President  — Premonitions 
of  disaster  —  Startling  revelations  — The  Community  doomed  — The 
surrender  and  its  consequences 253-296 

CHAPTER    IX. 

Hopedale  Community  dismantled  and  shorn  of  power— What  was  lost 
and  what  saved  to  the  institution  —  Endeavor  to  make  the  best  of  the 
calamity  and  seek  to  recover  what  had  been  given  up  — Counsels  and 
encouragements  —  Rapid  survey  of  what  transpired  subsequently  to 
the  year  1856  — Membership  — Official  servants  —  Landed  property  —  > 
The  Practical  Christian  discontinued —  In  war  time  —  Non-resistant 
defection  and  consequent  protest  — Resolutions  concerning  the  Rebel- 
lion passed  and  their  effect — Case  of  Conscription  and  the  course 
pursued  in  regard  to  it  —Educational  interests  —  Missionary  activities 
declining— Old  Testament  ethics  in  the  ascendant— Religious  interests 
and  institutions  — New  House  of  Worship  built  — The  Practical  Chris- 
tian Church  of  Hopedale  — An  Inductive  Conference  formed  — The 
Hopedale  Parish  constituted  residuary  legatee  of  The  Hopedale  Com- 
munity  —  The  end  reached 297-336 


XV11  THE   HOPEDALE   COMMUNITY. 

CHAPTER   X. 

Retrospective  survey  — Founders  of  the  Community —  Their  logic  invinci- 
ble—Composition and  character  of  Community  membership  — Con- 
tributions to  human  need,  comfort  and  happiness  —  Fruits  of  fourteen 
years'  associated  industry,  economy  and  practical  wisdom  —  Failure 
notwithstanding  — Causes  thereof  not  primarily  financial  but  moral 
and  spiritual  —  World  not  ready  for  so  radical  and  comprehensive  a 
reform  —  Material  for  Community  life  not  yet  to  be  found  —  Moral  and 
religious  teaching  superficial  and  inadequate  — Christianity  imper- 
fectly understood  and  applied  —  Professed  reverence  for  Christ's  pre- 
cepts, but  practical  disregard  and  scorn  of  them  —  Deficiencies  and 
excellencies  of  the  church  —  Secondary  causes  of  failure  — The  still 
existing  need  — The  question  involved  not  settled  but  postponed  — 
Principles  and  objects  of  the  Community  sacred  and  unimpeachable 
—  Some  day  they  will  be  actualized  and  the  Hopedale  experiment  will 
find  triumphant  vindication 337-367 

Appendix  A 368 

Appendix  B 397 


HISTORY. 


CHAPTER    I. 

1839-1840. 

THE  COMMUNITY  IDEA  —  ITS  ORIGIN  AND  GROWTH  — 
ORGANIC  FORM  ASSUMED. 


llopedale  Community  was  a  systematic  attempt  to 
establish  an  order  of  Human  Society  based  upon  the 
sublime  ideas  of  the  Fatherhood  of  God  and  the  Brother- 
hood of  Man,  as  taught  and  illustrated  in  the  Gospel  of 
Jesus  Christ.  The  primordial  germ,  of  which  it  was  the 
natural  outgrowth  and  consummation,  first  manifested  itself 
in  my  own  mind  about  the  time  of  the  opening  of  the 
year  1839.  That  germ,  in  its  crude  form,  was  commu- 
nicated to  a  few  personal  friends,  interested,  as  I  was,  in 
promoting  alike  the  interests  of  truth  and  the  enduring 
welfare  and  happiness  of  mankind,  who  gladly  welcomed 
it,  Mini  united  cordially  with  me  in  developing  it,  in  giving 
il  definite  form,  and  in  carrying  it  out  to  legitimate, 
practical  results  in  actual  life.  The  evolutionary  process 
by  which  all  this  was  accomplished,  this,  the  opening 
chapter  of  the  present  volume,  is  designed  to  delineate. 
Succeeding  chapters  will  recapitulate  and  put  on  record,  in 
their  proper  order  and  relativity,  the  different  character- 
istics and  phases  of  what  subsequently  transpired. 

At  the  date  mentioned  I  was  Pastor  of  the  First  Church 
and    Parish  of   the   town  of   Meudon,  Mass.,  a  position   I 


3  THE    HOPEDALE   COMMUNITY. 

had  occupied  during  the  eight  previous  years.  I  had  long 
before  outgrown  my  early  belief  that  the  religion  of  the 
New  Testament  was  chiefly  concerned  with  the  condition 
of  mankind  in  a  future  state  of  being,  and  that  it  was 
the  essential  office  and  mission  of  Jesus  Christ,  in  the 
plan  and  providence  of  the  Infinite  Father,  to  save  men 
from  damnation  and  misery  aw.aiting  the  finally  impenitent 
after  death.  I  had  come  to  see  that  the  teachings  of  the 
Master  were  essential  to  human  well-being  in  this  world 
as  well  as  in  the  world  to  come ;  that  it  was  one  of  the 
declared  objects  of  Christ's  labors  to  inaugurate  the  king- 
dom of  heaven  on  the  earth;  and  that  it  was  the  impera- 
tive duty  of  his  disciples  to  pray  .and  to  work  earnestly 
for  that  sublime  end,  as  one  of  the  best  preliminaries 
to  immortal  blessedness.  The  supreme,  universal,  un- 
changeable Fatherhood  of  God  and  the  universal  Brother- 
hood of  Man  had  become  settled  articles  of  my  faith,  and 
whatever  contradicted  either  of  them,  in  theory  or  prac- 
tice, I  was  certain  must  be  false  and  wrong.  Consequently 
the  seemingly  mighty  and  almost  sole  concern  of  the 
nominal  Christian  Church  to  save  souls  from  the  tortures 
of  never-ending  fire  and  secure  heaven  for  them  beyond 
the  grave,  appeared  to  me  a  distortion  of  the  Gospel 
requirement  —  a  delusion  of  superstition. 

On  the  other  hand,  among  dissenters  from  the  dogmas 
of  prevailing  theological  systems,  the  then  dominant  Uni- 
versalism,  which  magnified  the  doctrine  of  the  salvation 
of  all  men  at  death  and  knew  of  no  condition  beyond  the 
grave  but  that  of  angelic  beatitude,  had  become  to  me 
a  scarcely  less  irrational  and  offensive  extreme  of  so-called 
liberalism.  I  belonged  to  a  small  Association  of  Restora- 
tionists  who  had  seceded  from  the  Uuiversalist  denomination, 
and  were  in  a  state  of  controversial  protest  against  both 
extremes.  About  half  of  this  Association  felt  strongly 
that  their  Restorationism  meant  radical  reform  in  respect 
to  personal  and  social  abuses  and  evils,  and  had  zealously 


PROGRESSIVE    RESTORATIONISTS.  3 

espoused  the  Temperance,  Anti-Slavery,  and  Peace  move- 
ments, as  attested  by  a  series  of  outspoken,  uncompromis- 
ing resolutions  passed  not  long  before  in  public  convocation 
and  published  to  the  world.  The  rest  were  more  prudent 
and  conservative,  and  sincerely  thought  their  brethren  rash 
and  presumptions  in  their  utterances  and  action  —  running 
:iliend  too  fast  in  that  particular  direction. 

I  was  of  the  progressive  wing  and  longed  most  ardently 
to  see  New  Testament  Christianity  actualized  —  made 
practically  the  controlling  agency  in  all  the  relations  and 
concerns  of  life.  My  sympathizing  associates  were  like- 
minded  ;  enthusiastic  in  pressing  forward  to  a  wider  and 
more  authoritative  application  of  Christian  principles  to 
human  conduct  in  all  its  phases  and  manifestations,  and 
our  private  meditations  and  mutual  conferences  soon 
brought  us  out  generations  in  advance  of  our  former 
position  respecting  the  absolute  requirements  of  the  law 
of  Christian  righteousness.  The  growth  of  our  ideas  and 
convictions  in  regard  to  pure  Christianity  and  the  obliga- 
tions it  imposes  upon  its  confessors  was  rapid  and 
intense,  perhaps  I  should  say  precocious,  in  view  of 
subsequent  disclosures.  This  will  appear  from  the  fol- 
lowing remarkable  Confession  or  Declaration  of  Sentiments 
drafted  by  me  and  sent  forth  as  a  comprehensive  state- 
ment of  the  views  which  we  had  come  to  entertain 
touching  the  truths  and  duties  included  and  enjoined  by 
our  holy  religion,  as  we  understood  and  believed  it. 

"STANDARD    OF    PRACTICAL    CHRISTIANITY. 

"At  a  conference  of  Christian  Ministers  called  Restoration- 
ists  holden  by  special  agreement  at  Mendon,  Mass.,  Feb.  19th, 
20th,  and  21st,  and,  by  adjournment,  Apr.  24th  and  25th,  1839, 
there  was  a  free  and  solemn  discussion  of  the  prevailing 
views,  feelings,  and  conduct  of  professing  Christians  in  com- 
parison with  the  precepts  and  example  of  Jesus  Christ  and  his 
apostles;  which  discussion  resulted  in  the  adoption  of  the 
appended  testimonial,  to  wit: 


4  THE    HOPEDALE   COMMUNITY. 

"  Humbly  desirous  of  promoting  Christian  piety  and  morality 
in  their  primitive  purity,  the  undersigned  do  solemnly  acknowl- 
edge and  embrace  the  principles,  sentiments,  and  duties  declared 
in  the  following 

STANDARD. 

f 

"  We  are  Christians.  Our  creed  is  the  New  Testament.  Our 
religion  is  love.  Our  only  law  is  the  will  of  God.  Our  grand 
object  is  the  restoration  of  man,  especially  the  most  fallen  and 
friendless.  Our  immediate  concern  is  the  promotion  of  useful 
knowledge,  moral  improvement,  and  Christian  perfection.  We 
recognize  no  spiritual  father  but  God;  no  master  but  Christ. 
We  belong  to  that  kingdom  of  'righteousness,  peace,  and  joy,' 
which  is  '  not  of  this  world,'  whose  throne  is  holiness,  whose 
sceptre  is  truth,  whose  greatness  is  humility,  whose  pre-eminence 
is  service,  whose  patriotism  is  love  of  enemies,  whose  heroism 
is  forbearance,  whose  glory  is  self-sacrifice,  whose  wealth  is 
charity,'  whose  triumphs  are  salvation.  Therefore 

"We  can  make  no  earthly  object  our  chief  good;  nor  be 
governed  by  any  motive  but  the  love  of  right;  nor  compromise 
duty  with  wrorldly  convenience ;  nor  seek  the  preservation  of 
our  property,  our  reputation,  our  personal  liberty,  or  our  life 
by  sacrificing  conscience.  We  cannot  live  merely  to  eat,  drink, 
sleep,  display  ourselves,  acquire  property,  and  be  accounted 
great  in  this  world,  but  to  do  good.  All  that  we  are  and  have, 
with  all  that  God  shall  ever  bestow  on  us,  we  unreservedly 
dedicate  to  the  cause  of  universal  righteousness;  expecting  for 
ourselves,  in  the  order  of  divine  providence,  only  a  comfortable 
subsistence  until  death,  and,  in  the  world  to  come,  eternal  life. 

"Placing  unlimited  confidence  in  our  heavenly  Father,  we 
distrust  all  other  guidance  and  protection.  We  cannot  be  gov- 
erned by  the  will  of  man,  however  solemnly  and  formally 
declared,  nor  put  our  trust  in  an  arm  of  flesh.  Hence  we 
voluntarily  withdraw  from  all  interference  with  the  govern- 
ments of  this  world.  We  can  take  no  part  in  the  politics,  the 
administration,  or  the  defence  of  those  governments ;  either  by 
voting  at  their  polls,  holding  their  offices,  aiding  in  the  execu- 
tion of  their  legal  vengeance,  fighting  under  their  .banners, 
claiming  their  protection  against  violence,  seeking  redress  in 
their  courts,  petitioning  their  legislatures  to  enact  penal  laws,  or 
obeying  their  unjust  requirements.  Neither  cau  we  participate 


STANDARD   OF   PRACTICAL   CHRISTIANITY.  5 

in  any  rebellion,  insurrection,  sedition,  riot,  conspiracy,  or  plot 
against  any  of  those  governments;  nor  resist  any  of  their  ordi- 
nances by  physical  force;  nor  do  anything  unbecoming  a 
peaceable  submisssion  to  the  existing  powers; — but  will  quietly 
pay  the  taxes  levied  upon  us,  conform  to  all  innocent  laws  and 
usages,  enjoy  all  righteous  privileges,  abstain  from  all  civil 
commotions,  freely  express  our  opinion  of  governmental  acts, 
and  patiently  endure  whatever  penalties  we  may  for  conscience' 
sake  incur.  We  cannot  employ  carnal  weapons  nor  any  physi- 
cal violence  whatsoever  to  compel  moral  agents  to  do  right  or 
to  prevent  their  doing  wrong  —  not  even  for  the  preservation 
of  our  own  lives.  We  cannot  render  evil  for  evil,  railing  for 
railing,  or  wrath  for  wrath,  nor  revenge  insults  and  injuries,  nor 
lay  up  grudges,  nor  be  overcome  by  evil,  nor  do  otherwise 
than  '  love  our  enemies,  bless  them  that  curse  us,  do  good  to 
them  that  hate  us,  and  pray  for  them  that  despitefully  use  us 
and  persecute  us.' 

"We  cannot  indulge  the  lust  of  dominion,  nor  exercise 
arbitrary  authority,  nor  cherish  bigotry,  nor  be  egotistical,  nor 
receive  honorary  titles,  nor  accept  flattery,  nor  seek  human 
applause,  nor  assume  the  place  of  dignity.  We  cannot  be 
Pharisaical,  self-righteous,  or  dogmatical.  We  cannot  do  evil 
that  good  may  come.  We  cannot  resent  reproof,  nor  justify 
our  faults,  nor  persist  in  a  known  wrong. 

"We  cannot  excommunicate,  anathematize,  or  execrate  any 
apostate  or  reprobate  person  otherwise  than  by  withdrawing 
our  fellowship,  refusing  our  countenance,  and  declining  familial- 
intercourse . 

"We  cannot  be  cruel,  even  to  the  beasts  of  the  earth.  We 
cannot  be  inhuman,  unmerciful,  unjust,  unkind,  abusive,  or 
injurious  toward  any  being  of  our  race.  We  cannot  be  indif- 
ferent to  the  sufferings  of  distressed  humanity,  nor  treat  the 
unfortunate  with  contempt.  But  we  hold  ourselves  bound  to 
do  good  as  we  have  opportunity  unto  all  mankind,  to  feed 
the  hungry,  clothe  the  naked,  minister  to  the  sick,  visit  the 
imprisoned,  entertain  the  stranger,  protect  the  helpless,  com- 
fort the  afflicted,  plead  for  the  oppressed,  seek  the  lost,  lift  up 
the  fallen,  rescue  the  ensnared,  reclaim  the  wandering,  reform 
the  vicious,  enlighten  the  benighted,  instruct  the  young,  admon- 
ish the  wayward,  rebuke  the  scornful,  encourage  the  penitent, 
confirm  the  upright,  and  diffuse  a  universal  charity. 


6  THE   HOPEDALE   COMMUNITY. 

"We  cannot  go  with  a  multitude  to  do  evil,  nor  take  part 
with  the  mighty  against  the  feeble,  nor  excite  enmity  between 
the  rich  and  the  poor,  nor  stand  aloof  from  the  friendless,  nor 
court  the  great,  nor  despise  the  small,  not  be  afraid  of  the 
terrible,  nor  take  advantage  of  the  timid,  nor  show  respect  of 
persons,  nor  side  with  a  friend  in  what  is  wrong,  nor  oppose 
an  enemy  in  what  is  right,  nor  forbid  others  to  do  good 
because  they  follow  not  with  us,  nor  set  up  names  and  forms 
above  personal  holiness,  nor  refuse  to  co-operate  with  any  man, 
class,  or  association  of  men  on  our  own  principles  in  favor  of 
righteousness,  nor  contemn  any  new  light,  improvement,  or 
excellence  which  may  be  commended  to  our  attention  from 
any  quarter  whatsoever. 

"  We  cannot  make  a  trade  or  emolument  of  preaching  the 
Gospel,  nor  be  supported  therein  by  unwilling  contributions, 
nor  keep  back  any  truth  thereof  that  ought  to  be  declared, 
nor  consent  to  preach  more  or  les's  than  God  directs  us,  nor 
encourage  religious  devotion  in  mere  worldly  show,  nor  pursue 
any  course  of  conduct  whereby  the  money,  the  smiles,  or  the 
frowns  of  corrupt  men  may  overrule  the  divine  testimony. 
We  cannot  surrender  the  right  of  serving  God  according  to 
the  dictates  of  our  own  consciences,  nor  interfere  with  others 
in  their  exercise  of  the  same  liberty. 

"We  hold  it  impossible  to  cherish  a  holy  love  for  mankind 
without  abhoring  sin.  Therefore  we  can  give  no  countenance, 
express  or  implied,  to  any  iniquity,  vice,  wrong,  or  evil,  on  the 
ground  that  the  same  is  established  by  law  or  is  a  source  of 
pecuniary  profit  to  any  class  of  men,  or  is  fashionable  in  high 
life,  or  is  popular  with  the  multitude;  but  we  hold  ourselves 
so  much  the  more  bound  to  testify,  plainly,  faithfully,  and 
fearlessly,  against  such  sins.  Hence  we  declare  our  utter 
abhorrence  of  war,  slavery,  intemperance,  licentiousness,  covet- 
ousness,  and  worldly  ambition,  in  all  their  forms.  We  cannot 
partake  in  these  sins,  nor  apologize  for  them,  nor  remain 
neutral  concerning  them,  nor  refrain  from  rebuking  their 
various  manifestations;  but  must  ever  abstain  from  and  oppose 
them. 

"  We  cannot  promote  our  own  advantage  at  the  expense  of 
others,  by  deceiving,  defrauding,  corrupting,  degrading,  over- 
bearing, or  impoverishing  them.  We  cannot  take  away  their 
good  name  by  defamation,  nor  by  retailing  the  scandal  of  their 


STANDARD   OF    PRACTICAL   CHRISTIANITY.  7 

enemies,  nor  by  spreading  abroad  evil  reports  on  mere  hearsay 
authority,  nor  by  wantonly  publishing  their  failings.  We  can- 
not be  busy-bodies  in  other  people's  affairs,  nor  tale-bearers  of 
domestic  privacy,  nor  proclaimers  of  matters  unsuitable  for  the 
public  ear.  We  cannot  rashly  judge  men's  motives,  nor  raise 
evil  suspicious  against  them,  nor  join  in  condemning  the 
accused  without  a  hearing,  nor  delay  reparation  to  the  injured, 
nor  make  any  one's  necessity  our  advantage,  nor  willingly 
render  ourselves  burdensome  to  others,  nor  cause  any  one 
unnecessary  trouble  for  our  mere  gratification;  but  we  will 
always  deem  it  'more  blessed  to  give  than  to  receive,'  to  serve 
than  to  be  served;  sacrificing  nothing  of  holy  principle,  though, 
it  need  be,  everything  of  personal  convenience. 

"We  cannot  live  in  idleness  or  be  carelessly  extravagant; 
nor,  on  the  other  hand,  be  avaricious,  parsimonious,  or  nig- 
gardly. We  cannot  indulge  in  any  feverish  anxiety  concerning 
our  temporal  affairs,  nor  fret  ourselves  under  disappointment, 
nor  repine  at  anything  which  marks  our  lot.  We  cannot 
be  austere,  morose,  or  rude ;  nor  capricious,  ungrateful,  or 
treacherous.  We  cannot  practice  dissimulation,  nor  offer  ful- 
some compliments,  nor  use  a  nattering  courtesy.  We  cannot 
follow  pernicious  fashions,  nor  encourage  [immoral]  theatrical 
exhibitions,  nor  join  in  frivolous  amusements,  nor  countenance 
games  of  chance,  nor  array  ourselves  in  costly  apparel,  nor 
wear  useless  ornaments,  nor  put  on  badges  of  mourning,  nor 
distinguish  ourselves  by  any  peculiar  formalities  of  raiment  or 
language. 

"We  cannot  indulge  to  excess  in  eating,  drinking,  sleeping, 
recreation,  labor,  study,  joy,  or  sorrow ;  nor  permit  our  passions 
to  tyrannize  over  our  reasons.  We  cannot  harbor  pride,  envy, 
anger,  malice,  wrath,  ill-will,  sullenness,  or  peevishness;  nor 
cherish  any  unholy  lusts,  imaginations,  or  tempers. 

"We  cannot  swear  by  any  manner  of  oath,  nor  make  any 
rash  vow,  nor  offer  any  extraordinary  protestations  of  our  inno- 
cence, sincerity  or  veracity,  nor  utter  any  blasphemy,  impreca- 
tion, falsehood,  obscene  expression,  foolish  jest,  or  profane 
exclamation. 

"We  cannot  enter  into  the  state  of  matrimony  without 
grave  deliberation  and  an  assurance  of  divine  approval.  We 
cannot  neglect  or  abuse  our  families,  nor  evince  any  want  of 
natural  affection  towards  our  bosom  companion,  our  aged 


OF  THK 

JNIVERSITY 


8  THE   HOPEDALE   COMMUNITY. 

parents,  or  helpless  offspring.  We  cannot  imbrute  our  children 
by  disregarding  their  education,  nor  by  setting  them  an  evil 
example,  nor  by  over-fondness,  nor  by  harshness  and  severity, 
nor  by  corporal  punishments,  nor  by  petulence  and  scolding. 

"  We  cannot  desert  our  brethren  in  their  adversity,  nor  call 
anything  our  own  when  their  necessities  demand  relief,  nor  be 
silent  when  they  are  unjustly  accused  or  reproached.  We  can- 
not speak  of  their  faults  in  their  absence  without  first  having 
conferred  with  and  admonished  them;  nor  then,  if  they  have 
promised  amendment. 

"We  cannot  over-urge  any  person  to  unite  with  us,  nor  re- 
sort to  undignified  artifices  of  proselytism,  nor  seek  debate 
with  unreasonable  men,  nor  protract  a  controversy  for  the  sake 
of  the  last  word,  nor  introduce  sacred  subjects  for  discussion 
in  a  company  of  scorners.  Yet  we  will  hold  ourselves  always 
ready  to  give  an  answer  to  every  one  that  asketh  of  us  a 
reason  for  our  faith,  opinion,  or  conduct,  with  meekness,  frank- 
ness, and  patience. 

"Finally,  as  disciples  of  Jesus  Christ,  before  whose  judg- 
ment seat  all  must  appear,  we  acknowledge  ourselves  bound 
by  the  most  sublime,  solemn,  and  indispensable  obligations,  to 
'be  perfect  as  our  Father  in  heaven  is  perfect'  in  all  possible 
respects;  and  whereinsoever  we  come  short  thereof,  to  take 
shame  to  ourselves,  seek  divine  pardon,  repair  to  the  utmost 
our  delinquencies  and  bring  forth  fruits  meet  for  repentance. 
And  for  all  this,  'our  sufficiency  is  of  God,'  to  whom  be  glory, 
world  without  end.  Amen. 

"ADIN  BALLOU,  DAVID  R.  LAMSON,  GEO.  W.  STACY,  DANIEL 
S.  WHITNEY,  WILLIAM  H.  FISH,  Ministers;  CHARLES  GLAD- 
DING, WILLIAM  W.  COOK,  Laymen  concurring." 

This  document  was  intended  to  cover  the  whole  ground 
of  personal  and  social  righteousness  on  the  high  plane  of 
Practical  Christianity.  It  was  accompanied  with  references 
to  the  principal  passages  of  Scripture  understood  to  teach 
its  distinctive  principles,  sentiments,  and  duties,  and  with 
brief  explanatory  notes  upon  the  more  important  and 
radical  points.  Thus  verified  and  fortified,  it  was  sub- 
mitted to  the  consideration  and  judgment  of  those  who 
might  deem  it  worthy  of  deliberate  attention.  It  was 


RECEPTION    OF    THE    STANDARD.  9 

received  wit.li  widely-varying  emotion,  and  provoked 
much  comment  —  friends,  foes,  and  neutrals  expressing 
in  more  or  less  emphatic  terms  their  opinion  concerning 
it.  Some  condemned  it  outright  as  extravagant,  unsound, 
absurd,  impracticable,  though  few  of  these  attempted  to 
show  that  it  was  in  any  wise  hostile  to,  or  inconsistent 
with,  the  teaching  and  example  of  Christ.  Others,  more 
appreciative  and  hospitable,  regarded  it  with  favor ;  a 
small  number  with  moral  admiration  and  delight.  But 
the  great  mass  of  those  claiming  to  be  followers  of 
Christ  and  believers  in  his  religion  gave  it  little  or  no 
heed.  As  for  myself,  I  accepted  it  at  the  time  and 
endorsed  it  with  .all  my  mind  and  heart  and  soul,  and 
have  remained  a  linn  and  unwavering  adherent  of  it,  with 
a  few  slight  and  unessential  modifications,  until  this  hour. 
However  faulty  I  may  have  been  concerning  it  in  prac- 
tice, it  has  always  expressed  substantially  my  profound 
and  settled  convictions  of  pure  Christian  righteousness; 
such  as  the  truly  regenerate  church  of  Christ  will  some 
day  believe  in,  teach,  and  exemplify. 

Having  devised  and  formulated  the  foregoing  Standard, 
the  germination  and  growth  of  the  Community  idea  in 
my  own  mind  were  as  natural  and  inevitable  as  are  the 
flowering  and  fruitage  of  any  productive  plant  of  garden 
or  field  when  the  seed  from  which  it  springs  is  cast  into 
congenial  soil.  Equally  so  were  its  acceptance,  develop- 
ment, and  ultimate  practical  realization,  in  the  minds  of 
those  who,  with  me,  had  in  good  faith  put  their  names 
to  that  manifesto,  and  of  all  in  cordial  sympathy  with 
us.  We  were  "a  peculiar  people"  in  the  professing 
Christian  world.  We  had  taken  a  stand  unlike  that  of 
any  of  our  contemporaries  in  either  church  or  state  —  in 
any  existing  form  of  social  life.  We  occupied  a  new 
and  anomolous  situation.  We  had  gathered  a  fresh  and 
hitherto  unknown  species  of  grape  from  the  primitive 
Christian  vintage,  and  had  extracted  therefrom  a  sample 


10  THE    HOPEDALE   COMMUNITY. 

of  the  "new  wine"  of  the  Kingdom  of  God.  But  where 
were  the  bottles  to  hold  and  preserve  it?  They  were  not 
to  be  found.  Where  was  the  church,  the  congregation,  the 
social  organism,  prepared  to  accept,  sustain,  and  illustrate 
such  principles,  virtues,  obligations — such  high  and  noble 
ideals  of  duty  to  God  and  man  as  we  had  avowed  and  pro- 
claimed far  and  wide  as  a  new  revelation  from  the  infinite 
source  of  all  goodness  and  truth?  Nowhere  upon  the  face 
of  the  earth  was  there  one  of  these  —  one  among  all  the 
sects  of  Christendom  —  one  among  all  the  schools  of 
philosophy,  or  orders  of  philanthropy,  or  movements  of 
reform,  prepared  to  embrace,  maintain,  defend,  live  by 
them  in  their  entirety  —  in  all  the  length  and  breadth, 
height  and  depth  of  their  far-reaching  meaning  and  obli- 
gatoriness.  As  popular  Christianity  was,  in  church  and 
state  and  general  society,  there  was  for  such  ideas,  con- 
victions, principles  as  ours,  no  place  of  shelter,  nurture,  and 
practical  actualization  —  no  congenial  and  permanent  home. 
They  were  too  radical,  too  unconformable  to  the  established 
institutions,  customs,  practices,  and  fashions  of  this  world 
—  the  world  of  so-called  Christian  civilization  —  to  find, 
anywhere  an  open  hearty  welcome  and  a  ready-made 
habitation  to  dwell  in  and  to  go  forth  from  as  a  power 
of  godliness  and  redemption  to  mankind. 

In  several  fundamental  particulars  wrere  we  openly  and 
uncompromisingly  arrayed  against  the  prevailing  theory 
and  practice  of  the  world  at  large  about  us. 

(1)  The  great  overshadowing  War  System,  everywhere 
deemed  essential  to  the  maintenance  of  public  order  and 
the  security  of  the  common  welfare,  with  its  multiplex 
enginery  of  destruction,  its  appalling  record  of  devasta- 
tion, bloodshed,  and  death ;  its  awful  burden  of  degrada- 
tion, poverty,  and  wretchedness,  crushing  the  life  out  of 
vast  multitudes  of  people ;  its  manifold  barbarities  and 
cruelties,  subversive  of  the  essential  principles  and  vital 


A    NEW    DEPARTURE    INDICATED.  11 

spirit  of  the  Gospel  of  Christ,  we  unqualifiedly  condemned 
and  repudiated. 

(2)  The  vast  complex  mechanism  of  Politico-civil  Gov- 
ernment in  its  existing  form  and  mode  of  administration, 
based   upon  injurious    and    death-dealing   force   as   a  final 
resort,  and  claiming  the  unquestioning  allegiance  and  sup- 
port of   its  subjects,  with  its  ubiquitous  agencies,  offices, 
emoluments,   excitements,  honors,    and  rewards,  its  subtle 
methods  of  control   and   usurpations  of  authority,  its  dis- 
regard of  the  requirements    of  the   moral  law   and  of  the 
rights    of    the    weak    and    defenceless,    the    chicanery    and 
corruption  that  often   enter  into  its  management,    shaping 
its  policy  and  dictating  its  legislation  —  all  this  was  tran- 
scended   and  set  aside  by  us  in  our  declared   loyalty  to 
that    kingdom    which    is    "not    of    this    world,"    "whose 
officers    are    peace    and    its    exactors    righteousness,"    and 
wherein    those    that    are    chief    and    would     be    accounted 
greatest  are  servants  of  all. 

(3)  The   abounding    spirit  of  competition,    rivalry,   self- 
aggrandizement,    and    open    antagonism    which    dominates 
industry    and    trade,    whereby    mammon    worship    is    per- 
petually    encouraged     and     mutual    helpfulness     ignored ; 
whereby  the  strong  make  victims  of  the  weak,  the  cunning 
and  unscrupulous  outwit  and  overreach  the  honest,  simple- 
minded,  and  self-respecting,  the  arrogant  and  heartless  take 
advantage  of  the  necessities  of  the  poor  and  unfortunate, 
resulting    in    class    distinctions,    in    gross    inequalities    of 
condition,  in  revolting  extremes  of  wealth  and  poverty,  of 
prodigal  luxury  and  famishing  want,  of  gorgeous  display 
and    loathesome    destitution,    engendering    discontent,    ill- 
will,    resentment,    animosity,    hatred,    and    sometimes    the 
spirit  of  revenge  and  open  violence;  —  all  this,   and  espe- 
cially the  state  of  things  producing  it,  we  condemned  and 
repudiated  as  utterly  opposed    to    our  doctrine    of  human 
brotherhood,    which    requires    that    kindly  interest,  mutual 
assistance,    and    friendly    co-operation,    according    to    the 


12  THE   HOPED  ALE   COMMUNITY. 

maxim  "each  for  all  and  all  for  each,"  should  be  the 
supreme  rule  of  action  in  all  departments  and  activities  of 
industrial  and  commercial  life. 

Minor  points  of  difference  between  ns  and  those  of  our 
contemporaries  who  were  generally  satisfied  with  the  world 
as  it  was,  or  at  least  with  the  social  system  under  which 
they   were    living,    of    which  there  were    many  of  more  or 
less    significance,    it    is    not   needful   here   to   enumerate. 
Enough   have    been  mentioned  to  indicate  the  unique,  the 
peculiar,  the  virtually  isolated  situation  in  which  wre  found 
ourselves  by  reason  of  the  new  interpretations  and  appli- 
cations   of    Christian    truth    which    we    had    adopted    and 
testified  to    in  our  "Standard."     Realizing  our  condition, 
it    was    a    serious    question  with    us    what   we  were   going 
to  do  about  it.     We  could  not  renounce  our  faith,   aban- 
don our  avowed  principles  as  false,  visionary,  chimerical, 
impracticable,   and  go  back  to  the  position  —  to  the  eccle- 
siastical, political,  social  status  and  fellowship  whence  we 
came.      That    would    be    to    shut    out    the    light    that    had 
dawned    upon    us    from    heaven  and  to    deny  the   Lord  to 
whom  we  owed  allegiance.     We  could  not  unite  with  any 
existing    body    of    people,    religious,    reformatory,    philan- 
thropic, or  otherwise,  with  any  assurance  that  we   should 
find  sympathy,  co-operation,  desirable  assistance  in  main- 
taining   our   views    of   truth    and    duty  or   in    proclaiming 
them  and  making  them  efficacious  in  enlightening,   uplift- 
ing,  and  redeeming  mankind.     Nor  could  we  stand  in  our 
separate  and  unrelated  individuality  —  apart  from  the  world 
and   all   existing   associations,    institutions,    organizations, 
and  apart  from  each   other.     Not  at  all.     We    must    our- 
selves, few  in  numbers  as  we  were,  strike  hands  together, 
be  united  in  spirit  and  in  action,  co-operate,  associate  our 
interests,  combine  our  forces,  institute  a  church,  a  system 
of    society,    that   should    truly    represent    our    convictions ; 
build    a    new    civilization    radically   higher    than    the    old, 
which    should    be    in    deed  and  in  truth  the  realization  of 


RELIEF  FROM  AN  UNFORTUNATE  POSITION  SOUGHT.      13 

a  divine  order  of  human  life  founded  on  the  great  ideas 
of  the  fatherhood  of  God  and  brotherhood  of  man.  This 
would  be  to  put  the  new  wine  of  our  Practical  Christianity 
into  the  new  bottles  of  an  embryonic  kingdom  of  heaven 
on  the  earth.  In  this  way  was  conceived  and  quickened 
in  us  the  germinal  principle  that  in  a  few  months  was  to 
become  incarnated  in  Fraternal  Community  No.  1,  after- 
wards known  as  The  Hopedale  Community. 

Another  consideration  of  no  trifling  importance  came  in 
as  a  factor  of  the    problem  whose  solution  was  command- 
ing our  attention,  and  no  doubt  had  considerable  influence 
in    determining    our    future    course.       Our    acknowledged 
''Standard"  contemplated   and   required  on  our  part,  not 
only   a    devotion    to  whatever  might  conduce  in  a  general 
way  and  by  the  more  quiet  methods   of   moral    enlighten- 
ment   and    spiritual    regeneration    and    growth   to  the  pro- 
gress   and    redemption   of   mankind,    but  also  a  deep  and 
active    interest    in   those   specific  reforms  which  were  then 
agitating   the  public  mind  and  pressing  their  claims  home 
upon    the    hearts    and    consciences  of   all  those  who  loved 
God  and  their  fellowmen.     Recognizing  and  accepting  the 
obligations    imposed    upon    us    in    that    respect,    we    had 
heartily  espoused  the  Anti-Slavery,  Temperance,  and  Peace 
movements,   and    had    borne  faithful  witness  in  the  pulpit 
and  elsewhere  against  the  great  evils   they  were    designed 
to  overcome  and  banish  from  the  world.     Our  course  had 
aroused  more  or  less  opposition  on  the  part  of  certain  of 
our  parishioners,  some    of    whom    threatened    to  withdraw 
their  support  from  us  and  secure    our  discharge  from  our 
post  of  ministerial  duty,   as  had  been  done  under  similar 
circumstances  elsewhere.     This  was  exceedingly  embarrass- 
ing and  unpleasant  for  us  and  led  us  to  see  how  unfortu- 
nate was  the  position  of  a  minister  who  was  impelled  by 
his  conscience  to  proclaim  unpopular  truths  and  to  arraign 
and  denounce  prevailing  errors  and  abuses  while  dependent 
for  the  means  of    subsistence    for   himself    and  family,  in 


14  THE    HOPEDALE   COMMUNITY. 

part  at  least,  upon  those  who  were  brought  under  rebuke 
and  condemnation  by  his  testimonies.  It  also  suggested 
the  inquiry  whether  some  way  could  not  be  devised  or 
plan  adopted  whereby  we.  as  occupants  of  such  a  posi- 
tion, could  not  maintain  ourselves  outside  of  our  profes- 
sion,—  by  week-day  agricultural  or  mechanical  labors,  or 
otherwise  —  and  go  out  into  the  community  at  large  on 
Sundays  or  week-day  evenings,  as  opportunity  should  offer, 
and  deliver  our  message  upon  questions  affecting  the 
interests  of  humanity,  freely  and  independently,  in  fidelity 
to  our  highest  convictions,  whether  men  would  hear  or  for- 
bear. The  proposition  to  establish  a  Community  seemed 
to  be  in  line  with  that  inquiry  and  to  furnish  a  satisfactory 
answer  to  it.  Under  such  a  system  as  that  to  which  our 
declaration  of  faith  was  impelling  us,  all  our  material 
wants  would  be  adequately  provided  for  and  we  could 
proclaim  our  Gospel  of  Reform  as  the  Lord's  freemen, 
uninfluenced  by  any  financial  or  other  worldly  considera- 
tions, and  make  war  against  reigning  abominations,  fash- 
ionable iniquities,  and  spiritual  wickedness  in  high  places, 
regardless  of  the  favor  or  hostility,  the  smiles  or  the 
frowns  of  men.  So  were  we  confirmed  and  strengthened  in 
our  purpose  to  move  forward  in  the  way  already  indicated 
—  a  way  which  appeared  to  our  thought  and  faith  provi- 
dentially opened  to  us. 

While  in  the  midst  of  the  inquiries  and  deliberations 
set  forth  in  the  foregoing  pages,  seeking  after  and  wait- 
ing for  any  new  light  that  might  be  thrown  upon  our 
uncertain  path,  we  commenced  the  publication  of  a  small 
semi-monthly  sheet,  entitled,  The  Practical  Christian,  its 
first  number  being  dated,  "Mendon,  Mass.,  April  1, 
1840."  It  had  fora  standing  motto,  "Devoted  to  Truth 
and  Righteousness."  As  stated  in  the  prospectus,  its 
leading  design,  in  general  terms,  was  to  be  an  organ  for 
"a  faithful  exposition,  defence,  and  promulgation  of 


THE    PRACTICAL   CHRISTIAN.  15 

Primitive  Christianity,  in  all  the  prominent  character- 
istics, aspects,  and  bearings  of  its  theology,  piety,  and 
morality,"  and  "to  bear  aloft  and  magnify  the  standard  of 
religious  truth  and  duty  for  which  Jesus  of  Nazareth  died 
on  the  cross."  Though  naming  the  town  of  Mention  as  its 
phu-e  of  publication,  it  was  not  at  first  printed  there,  but 
at  such  localities  as  were  most  convenient.  Its  Editor  in 
Chief  and  Publishing  Agent  was  AIMS  BALLOU  ;  with 
DAVID  K.  LAMSON,  GEORGE  W.  STACY,  DANIEL  S.  WHIT- 
NEY, and  WILLIAM  II.  FISH,  Contributors.  These  assistants 
for  several  years  furnished  a  goodly  proportion  of  the 
matter  that  appeared  in  its  columns.  On  the  last  page 
of  No.  1,  was  presented  in  full  our  "Standard  of  Prac- 
tical Christianity"  adopted  a  year  before,  with  all  its 
Scripture  verifications  and  explanatory  notes.  In  the 
same  issue  I  began  a  series  of  articles  entitled  Malposition 
of  Faith,  in  which  I  endeavored  "to  furnish  inquiring 
minds  with  a  well  digested,  systematic,  and  comprehensive 
view  of  Christian  theology,  as  understood  by  me  and 
generally  by  those  sympathizing  with  me  in  matters  of 
religious  faith  and  practice."  It  ran  through  the  entire 
volume  and  near  to  the  middle  of  the  succeeding  one. 
Concurrently  therewith,  both  my  brethren  and  myself,  with 
now  and  then  an  outside  correspondent,  were  unfolding, 
illustrating,  and  applying  the  general  moral  and  spiritual 
ideas  and  sentiments  that  had  been  imparted  to  us,  in 
such  a  manner  as  seemed  calculated  to  instruct  our  read- 
ers in  the  things  of  the  Divine  Kingdom,  to  show  them 
their  duty  to  both  God  and  man,  to  arouse  in  their 
breasts  a  sense  of  personal  responsibility,  and  so  build 
them  up  in  the  faith  and  life  of  Christ.  A  rational,  a 
practical,  a  spiritual  interpretation  and  application  of  the 
Gospel  in  its  relation  to  the  individual  and  social  needs 
of  our  fellowmen  constituted  the  principal  theme  of  our 
discussions,  the  burden  of  our  testimonies.  All  the  virtues 
that  dignify  and  adorn  human  character,  all  the  graces 


16  THE    HOPEDALE    COMMUNITY. 

that  enter  into  the  Christian  life,  all  helpful  ministries  of 
good,  all  disinterested  philanthropies,  all  salutary  reforms, 
received  encouragement  at  our  hands  and  the  commenda- 
tion which  we  felt  to  be  their  due. 

Meanwhile  the  Community  idea  in  our  minds  was  strug- 
gling to  make  itself  felt,  and  to  gain  a  commanding 
place  in  our  thoughts  and  deliberations.  It  entered  more 
and  more  into  our  social  intercourse  as  we  met  from 
time  to  time,  and  grew  in  importance  as  we  dwelt  upon 
it  and  suggested  practical  measures  to  one  another  in 
friendly  conversation.  But  it  did  not  seem  advisable  in 
its  yet  immature,  undigested  state,  to  make  it  the  subject 
of  deliberative  discourse  in  any  of  our  public  convoca- 
tions, nor  even  to  mention  it  in  our  paper,  and  for  quite 
a  while  it  was  scarcely  heard  of  outside  our  own  little 
circle.  At  length,  having  as  I  thought  sufficiently  pon- 
dered it  in  my  own  private  meditations  and  talked  about 
it  with  my  brethren,  I  was  moved  to  make  known  our 
views  and  feelings  upon  it.  more  in  the  spirit  of  sug- 
gestion and  inquiry  than  of  positive  conviction,  through 
the  columns  of  The  Practical  Christian,  in  its  issue  of 
Sept.  15,  1840:  Vol.  1,  No.  10.  The  article  will  show 
the  still  rudimental  phase  of  the  matter  involved  at  that 
date,  but  as  it  was  the  first  proclamation  of  what  was 
fomenting  in  our  own  breasts  and  seeking  an  outward 
expression,  ere  long  to  be  actualized  in  an  organic  form 
and  stand  forth  before  angels  and  men  as  a  noteworthy 
achievement  among  the  hurnanitary  movements  of  the 
middle  of  the  19th  century,  it  is  given  here  complete. 

"  COMMUNITIES. 

"  A  good  deal  has  been  said  among  our  brethren  in  their 
social  interviews  at  various  times  about  the  establishment  of 
Practical  Christian  Communities.  We  have  been  frequently 
requested  of  late  to  lay  the  subject  before  the  readers  of  this 
paper  with  a  view  to  a  free  discussion  of  the  general  proposi- 
tion and  its  details.  We  have  at  length  concluded  to  comply 


IDEA    OF   A   COMMUNITY    ANNOUNCED.  17 

with  this  repeated  request,  but  in  doing  so  would  respectfully 
premise  that  the  whole  matter  is  in  a  mere  embryonic  state 
as  yet,  and  that  little  more  can  be  done  at  present  than  to 
suggest,  discuss,  and  consider.  Whether  in  the  end  any  enter- 
prise of  the  kind  will  be  deemed  desirable,  or,  if  desirable, 
practicable,  remains  to  be  seen.  We  shall  submit  a  rough 
sketch  of  a  general  plan  for  a  Community,  and  leave  it  to  the 
criticism  and  amendment  of  the  brethren  at  large.  The 
Shakers  and  the  Moravians  have  established  and  maintained 
Communities  after  their  peculiar  fashion,  neither  of  which  we 
should  at  present  wholly  approve  as  models,  though  much 
might  be  selected  from  both  worthy  of  adoption.  With  us.  at 
present,  perfect  individuality  is  a  fundamental  idea  of  the  true 
man.  We  believe  that  by  setting  the  individual  right  with 
his  Creator,  we  shall  set  social  relationships  right.  We  there- 
fore go  for  unabridged  independence  of  mind,  conscience,  duty, 
and  responsibility;  for  direct  divine  government  over  the 
human  soul;  and,  of  course,  for  as  little  human  government 
as  possible.  We  wish  to  know  whether  there  is  any  such 
thing  as  man's  being  and  doing  right  from  the  law  of  God 
written  on  his  heart,  without  the  aid  of  external  bonds  and 
restraints.  We  believe  this  is  possible,  and  that  it  is  every 
man's  privilege,  by  the  grace  of  God,  to  attain  to  such  a  state. 
And  more  than  this,  we  believe  that  men  in  the  flesh  will  yet 
by  thousands  actually  arrive  at  that  blissful  state.  Hence,  our 
notions  of  a  Practical  Christian  Community  preclude  very 
much  of  the  governmental  machinery  employed  in  both  the 
Shaker  and  Moravian  establishments. 

"  We  are  not  prepared  to  embrace  the  doctrine  of  the 
Shakers  respecting  marriage,  nor  their  plan  of  entire  common 
property.  The  Moravians,  it  is  true,  retain  marriage,  preserve 
family  integrity,  and  secure  the  inclividual  rights  of  property, 
etc.  But  there  is  too  much  detail  and  complexity  in  their 
government.  Both  of  these  classes  of  Christians  have  taken  a 
noble  stand  in  favor  of  many  points  of  Practical  Christianity, 
as  have  also  the  Friends,  Mennonites,  and  others.  They  are 
lights  of  Christian  excellence  to  which  we  should  do  well  to 
give  heed:  not  implicitly  as  unto  perfection  itself,  but  judi- 
ciously, as  unto  lamps  lighted  at  the  great  sun,  Jesus  Christ, 
which  yet  may  be  excelled  in  some  respects  by  still  brighter 
luminaries.  Especially  would  we  recommend,  should  our 


18  THE   HOPEDALE   COMMUNITY. 

brethren  ever  attempt  to  found  a  Community,  that  some  suit- 
able persons  be  sent  to  the  Shaker  and  Moravian  settle- 
ments, for  the  purpose  of  investigating  the  practical  working 
of  their  respective  systems,  in  order  that  whatever  is  good  in 
them  might  not  be  overlooked  or  rejected.  We  say  this  the 
more  earnestly  because  we  have  made  the  foregoing  remarks 
respecting  their  Communities  wholly  from  book  knowledge 
and  not  from  actual  observation,  which  last  might  perhaps 
render  it  necessary  to  modify  our  judgment  in  some  respects. 
With  these  preliminary  observations,  we  proceed  to  the  busi- 
ness in  hand. 

"(1)  What  is  the  great  leading  idea  of  the  proposed  Com- 
munity? Ans. — A  compact  neighborhood  or  village  of  practical 
Christians,  dwelling  together  by  families  in  love  and  peace, 
insuring  to  themselves  the  comforts  of  life  by  agricultural  and 
mechanical  industry,  and  devoting  the  entire  residue  of  their 
intellectual,  moral,  and  physical  resources  to  the  Christianiza- 
tion  and  general  welfare  of  the  human  race. 

"(2)  What  is  the  basis  on  which  members  are  to  be  admitted 
into  this  Community?  Ans. — Assent  to  the  document  known 
among  our  friends  by  the  title.  Standard  of  Practical  Chris- 
tianity. Those  who  profess  the  principles  and  acknowledge  the 
duties  declared  in  that  Standard  (together  with  their  families 
and  dependents)  are  to  be  the  inhabitants  of  the  Community, 
village,  or  neighborhood. 

"(3)  How  is  a  tract  of  land,  or  proper  quantity  of  real 
estate,  to  be  obtained  for  such  an  establishment?  Ans. —  By 
means  of  a  joint  stock  fund  raised  by  subscription  in  definite 
shares  and  judiciously  expended  in  the  purchase  of  the 
requisite  real  estate;  which  estate,  having  been  secured,  should 
be  afterwards  partly  or  wholly  divided  among  the  joint  pro- 
prietors according  to  the  value  of  their  several  subscriptions 
—  unless  all  were  agreed  to  hold  it  in  common. 

"(4)  Where  shall  the  Community  be  located?  Ans. —  In  the 
East  or  West,  according  to  circumstances.  It  should  be  on 
land  capable  of  the  highest  degree  of  improvement  at  the 
least  expense,  in  a  healthful  location,  a  little  retired  from  the 
bustle  of  the  world,  with  a  good  mill  privilege,  and  within 
reach  of  a  ready  market  for  vegetable  productions. 

"(5)  What  should  be  the  maximum  size  of  the  Community? 
Ans. —  We  think  it  should  not  comprise  more  than  one  hun- 


GENERAL   PLAN    OF   ORGANIZATION    OUTLINED.          19 

dred  families,  and  perhaps  not  so  many.  More  good  might 
probably  be  done  by  planting  new  colonies  when  those  wishing 
to  unite  in  such  an  enterprise  should  exceed  fifty  families, 
especially  if  it  were  to  be  undertaken  in  a  part  of  the  country 
where  land  is  not  easily  obtained.  Unforseen  circumstances, 
however,  would  more  definitely  settle  the  question  of  size.  It 
might  vary  in  different  localities.  No  precise  limits  can  now 
be  prescribed. 

"(6)  What  sort  of  a  Constitution  or  Compact  would  be 
proper  for  such  a  Community?  Ans. —  Something  like  the 
following,  viz.: 

"  We,  the  undersigned,  professing  the  principles  and  acknowl- 
edging the  duties  declared  in  the  document  entitled  Standard 
oj  Practical  Christianity,  do  covenant  with  each  other  and  agree 
as  follows: 

"That  by  divine  permission  and  favor  we  will  unite  in  the 
formation  and  establishment  of  a  Community  to  be  called 
THE  FRATERNAL  COMMUNION. 

"  That  we  will  purchase  a  suitable  tract  of  land,  lay  out  the 
site  of  a  village,  and,  as  soon  as  may  be,  settle  thereon  by 
families  in  a  compact  neighborhood. 

"That  to  this  end  we  will  create  by  subscription  a  joint 
stock  fund  in  shares  of  fifty  dollars  each. 

"  That  said  shares  shall  be  transferable  by  the  holders  at 
their  pleasure,  provided  only  that  no  share  shall  be  sold  out 
of  the  Communion  until  the  purchase  thereof  shall  have  been 
refused  by  all  within  its  membership. 

"That  when  the  joint  stock  fund  shall  have  been  invested 
in  real  estate,  any  stockholder  shall  be  entitled,  upon  demand, 
to  have  his  or  her  just  portion  of  the  joint  property,  or  any 
specified  part  thereof,  set  off  to  his  or  her  exclusive  posses- 
sion. And  that  it  shall  forever  be  at  the  option  of  the  stock- 
holders, as  individuals,  to  continue  in  joint  partnership  with 
each  other,  wholly  or  in  part,  or  to  dissolve  the  same  by  an 
equitable  division. 

"That  this  Communion  shall  from  time  to  time  elect  such 
official  servants  as  may  be  deemed  necessary,  all  of  whom 
shall  be  directly  accountable  to  their  constituents,  and  subject 
to  their  instructions  and  removals  at  their  pleasure. 

"That  any  person  professing  the  principles  and  acknowledg- 
ing the  duties  set  forth  in  the  forenamed  Standard,  may 
become  a  member  by  subscribing  this  Compact. 


20  THE   HOPEDALE   COMMUNITY. 

"That  any  membar  of  this  Communion  may  be  dismissed, 
or  withdraw  from  the  same,  at  any  time,  by  expressing  a 
desire  or  purpose  to  do  so  in  writing. 

"That  nothing  herein  contained  shall  be  so  construed  as  to 
countenance  the  slightest  interference  with  the  conscience, 
rights,  duties,  or  responsibilities  of  any  individual  member. 

"That  this  Communion  may  at  their  pleasure  amend  this 
Compact,  or  adopt  any  rules  or  regulations  for  the  transaction 
of  business  under  the  same  not  repugnant  to  its  general  object 
and  spirit. 

"(7)  Finally,  What  important  advantages  may  be  expected 
from  the  establishment  of  the  proposed  Community?  Ans. — 
Such  a  Community  would  furnish  a  happy  home  to  many 
pure-hearted  Christians  now  scattered  abroad,  insulated  from 
each  other,  enthralled  by  a  corrupt  church,  and  oppressed  by 
the  world.  It  would  enable  them  to  secure,  with  less  severe 
toil  and  more  certainty,  a  comfortable  subsistence  for  them- 
selves and  their  family  dependents.  It  would  render  it  much 
easier  for  them  to  reform  pernicious  habits  of  living  and  pro- 
mote the  true  physical  health  of  themselves  and  their  children. 
It  would  remove  them  from  the  dominion  of  many  corrupt 
and  demoralizing  influences  to  which  they  are  now  exposed. 
It  would  enable  them  to  set  up  and  maintain  a  purer  religious 
worship,  a  holier  ministry,  a  more  salutory  moral  discipline,  and 
a  better  spiritual  culture.  It  would  enable  them  to  send  forth 
devoted  religious,  moral,  and  philanthropic  missionaries  into 
the  world  for  its  conversion  —  men  and  women  who  could  not 
be  bribed  nor  frightened  into  subserviency  to  popular  iniquities, 
and  who,  when  weary,  might  return  like  Noah's  dove  to  the 
shelter  of  a  peaceful  ark  and  find  repose.  It  would  enable 
them  more  effectually  to  prosecute  every  work  of  moral  reform 
arid  improvement,  by  means  of  the  press,  of  well-ordered 
schools,  and  of  trained  teachers  going  out  to  inculcate  their 
holy  principles  wherever  the  people  might  welcome  them.  It 
would  enable  them  to  'bring  up  their  children  in  the  nurture 
and  admonition  of  the  Lord,'  away  from  those  loose  and  de- 
grading influences  so  prevalent  in  existing  society.  It  would 
enable  them  to  build  asylums  for  the  orphan,  the  widow,  and 
the  outcast,  wherein  they  might  be  led  into  the  paths  of  life. 

"In  fine,  it  would  be  a  powerful  concentration  of  moral 
light  and  heat  which  would  make  Practical  Christianity  known 


PROMINENT  FEATURES  OF  THE  PLAN.        21 

and  felt  by  all  beholders.  It  would  be  in  the  moral  and 
religious  world  what  the  sun  glass  and  steam  engine  are  in 
the  physical.  If  one  such  Community  could  be  established, 
,the  number  might  be  indefinitely  multiplied  till  at  length  the 
kingdoms  of  this  world  should  be  absorbed  in  the  glorious 
kingdom  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ.  Thus  the  reign  of  ignor- 
ance, selfishness,  pride,  and  violence  would  be  terminated 
among  men,  and  the  whole  great  brotherhood  of  our  race 
would  dwell  together  in  unspeakable  peace  under  the  govern- 
ment of  Him  to  whom  belongeth  the  kingdom,  power,  and 
glory,  forever. 

"Shall  the  experiment  be  made?  Who  has  faith  in  such 
small  things?  Let  the  believers  speak." 

The  above  article,  though  the  product  of  my  pen,  was 
in  its  general  character  a  consensus  of  the  sentiments  and 
aspirations  of  all  those  whose  names  had  been  appended 
to  the  Standard.  It  is  worth  while  to  call  attention  to  a 
few  of  its  distinguishing  features.  It  exhibits  a  strong 
determination  to  maintain  unabridged  individuality  of  per- 
sonal rights  and  responsibilities,  the  integrity  of  the  mar- 
riage and  family  relationship,  and  the  great  safeguards 
against  communal  tyranny  and  absorption;  yet  at  the 
same  time  it  holds  up  the  grand  desideratum  of  fraternal 
unity  and  co-operation.  It  contemplates  no  unnatural, 
exclusive,  monastic  retreat  from  society  at  large,  but  only 
such  a  concentration  of  the  benign  social  forces  represented 
by  us  as  should  enable  us  most  effectually  to  reach  out  a 
religious  and  philanthropic  hand  to  all  mankind.  It  pro- 
poses a  definite  moral  and  religious  test  of  membership, 
but  not  a  theological,  dogmatic,  sectarian  one.  It  sup- 
poses those  entering  the  association  suggested  to  be 
Christlike  enough  to  stand  upon  his  super- worldly  plane, 
sullicieiitly  above  the  common  level  of  existing  civilization 
not  to  be  involved  in  its  semi-barbarism  ;  thus  to  uplift 
it  instead  of  being  debased  by  it,  as  has  so  long  been 
the  case  with  the  nominal  Christian  Church.  The  weakest 
point  of  the  proposition,  perhaps,  was  its  over- sang  nine 


22  THE   HOPEDALE   COMMUNITY. 

assumption  that  such  persons  could  be  found,  wilh  the 
attainments,  resources,  and  noble  devotion  requisite  to 
the  realization  of  the  end  in  view, — the  formation  of 
practical  Christian  Communities  in  those  times  or  at  some 
time  not  far  away.  The  credulity  on  which  such  assump- 
tion was  based  may  be  regarded  as  a  weakness,  but  can 
be  no  crime,  and  is  morally  far  preferable  to  that  pseudo- 
Christian  skepticism  which  is  forever  postponing  the  advent 
of  a  truly  Christian  dispensation  under  the  plea  that  in 
our  day  it  is  utterly  impracticable.  Whatever  may  be 
said  of  the  article,  it  shows  very  plainly  the  drift  of 
myself  and  brethren  towards  Community  life. 

But  as  we  advanced  in  that  direction  and  began  to 
confer  together  in  regard  to  a  plan  of  organization,  almost 
insuperable  obstacles  hindered  our  progress.  In  the  first 
place  we  were  hardly  more  than  novitiate  confessors  of 
our  exalted  Standard.  And  yet  our  understandings,  con- 
victions, and  consciences  were  far  in  advance  of  our 
circumstances,  our  habitual  spiritual  states  of  mind,  and 
aptitudes  for  the  exemplification  of  our  sublime  ideal. 
Hence  we  were  very  liable  to  trip  and  stumble  in  the 
presence  of  temptation.  Moreover,  our  knowledge,  skill, 
and  experience  as  social  architects  was  sadly  inadequate 
to  the  designing  and  construction  of  the  needed  edifice. 
And  then  we  could  command  but  a  fraction  of  the  requi- 
site pecuniary  means.  Furthermore,  we  could  muster 
only  a  handful  of  coadjutors,  and  most  of  these  were 
untrained  and  undisciplined,  and  of  doubtful  capability 
for  the  work  we  were  about  to  undertake.  And  finally, 
it  was  by  no  means  certain  that  any  of  our  families  were 
disposed  to  enter  heartily  with  us  upon  the  untried  and 
hazardous  experiment.  Under  these  circumstances  what 
was  to  be  done?  Our  ardent  aspirations,  our  zeal  and 
enthusiasm  could  not  be  repressed.  Something  we  must 
do,  if  it  were  only  to  grope  and  flounder  toward  our  well- 
determined  object.  We  could  meditate,  we  could  plan, 


DISCUSSION   AND   CORRESPONDENCE.  23 

we  could  agitate  the  subject  if  we  could  do  nothing 
more,  aud  so  prepare  the  way  for  systematic  action  when 
the  proper  time  should  seem  to  have  come. 

After  the  publication  of  the  article  quoted,  which  brought 
the  whole  matter  before  our  friends  scattered  abroad  and 
the  general  public,  it  came  under  frequent  and  earnest 
consideration  at  our  conferences  and  social  meetings,  as 
well  as  in  our  private  interviews.  Letters  of  inquiry 
from  interested  persons  near  and  far  away  began  to 
reach  us,  to  one  of  which  1  responded  in  The  Practical 
Christian  of  December  1,  1840,  thus: 

"  I  wish  the  good  and  the  true  would  give  it  (the  Community 
question)  their  most  serious  and  deliberate  consideration.  I 
look  forward  with  high  expectations  of  good  to  mankind 
through  this  instrumentality.  The  matter  is  maturing  and 
will  in  due  time  ripen  into  cheering  results.  Encouraging- 
letters  have  been  received  from  our  friends  at  a  distance  in 
relation  to  the  general  proposition.  T  wish  to  hear  from  more 
of  those  who,  I  am  sure,  would  be  glad  to  take  part  iu  such 
an  enterprise.  It  has  been  deemed  inexpedient  to  enlarge 
much  on  the  topic  in  our  paper,  but  all  persons  interested 
may  rest  assured  that  the  discussion  is  going  on,  and  that  the 
project  will  not  be  abandoned  without  some  attempt  to  carry 
it  into  execution.  I  would  invite  those  of  our  brethren  and 
sisters  in  various  places  who  think  favorably  of  it  to  com- 
municate with  me  on  the  subject,  and  especially  to  signify 
what  amount  of  means  they  are  prepared  to  invest  in  the 
undertaking,  if  they  can  see  a  rational  prospect  of  success." 

In  other  ways  than  by  correspondence  were  things 
moving  on  towards  the  practical  realization  of  our  fondly 
cherished  hopes.  Meetings  were  held  in  different  locali- 
ties for  the  special  purpose  of  bringing  together  persons 
known  to  be  favorable  to  our  particular  movement,  or  to 
the  general  cause  of  Social  reform,  for  mutual  consulta- 
tion and  suggestion ;  many  individuals,  devoted  to  works 
of  philanthropy  and  human  improvement  in  a  large  and 
unsectarian  way,  were  interviewed  and  consulted  for  the 


24  THE   HOPEDALE   COMMUNITY. 

purpose  of  securing  their  encouragement  and  moral  sup- 
port, even  when  they  were  not  prepared  to  co-operate 
personally  with  us  or  aid  us  with  pecuniary  assistance ; 
and  certain  localities  were  visited  and  examined  somewhat 
in  order  to  ascertain  their  fitness  as  a  site  for  a  Com- 
munity. Moreover,  I  had  spent  much  time,  thought,  and 
energy  upon  drafting  the  form  of  a  Constitution  to  be 
submitted  to  the  brethren  and  sisters  when  the  time  for 
a  permanent  organization  should  come.  An  event  of 
great  significance  to  me  personally  had  also  occurred, — 
the  acceptance  of  the  Community  idea  by  my  wife.  She 
had  demurred  for  some  time,  but  at  length,  after  a  long 
conversation  with  me  upon  the  subject,  confessed  herself 
satisfied  and  ready  to  second  my  efforts  in  carrying  my 
plans  into  execution.  This  gratified  me  exceedingly  and 
gave  me  fresh  courage  and  zeal  in  pressing  forward 
toward  what  had  become  the  goal  of  my  most  cherished 
ambition  and  desire. 

It  should  be  remembered  by  the  reader  of  these  pages 
that  the  year  of  which  I  am  now  writing,  1840,  opened 
a  decade  of  American  history  pre-eminently  distinguished 
for  the  general  humanitarian  spirit  wrhich  seemed  to  per- 
vade it,  as  manifested  in  numerous  and  widely  extended 
efforts  to  put  away  existing  evils  and  better  the  condi- 
tion of  the  masses  of  mankind ;  and  especially  for  the 
w<ave  of  communal  thought  which  swept  over  the  country, 
awakening  a  very  profound  interest  in  different  directions 
in  the  question  of  the  re-organization  of  society ;  —  an 
interest  which  assumed  various  forms  as  it  contemplated 
or  projected  practical  results.  There  were  a  considerable 
number  of  what  were  known  as  Transcendentalists  in  and 
about  Boston,  who,  under  the  leadership  of  Rev.  George 
Ripley,  a  Unitarian  clergyman  of  eminence,  planned  and 
put  in  operation  the  Roxbury  Community,  generally 
known  as  the  "Brook  Farm"  Association.  A  company 


EXPERIMENTAL   SOCIAL   ENTERPRISES. 

of  radical  reformers  who  had  come  out  from  the  church 
on  account  of  its  alleged  complicity  with  Slavery  and 
other  abominations,  and  hence  called  Come-outers,  insti- 
tuted a  sort  of  family  Community  near  Providence,  R.  I. 
Other  progressives,  with  George  W.  Benson  at  their  head, 
founded  the  Northampton  Community  at  the  present 
village  of  Florence,  a  suburb  of  that  city.  During  the 
same  period  Mr.  Albert  Brisbane  of  Philadelphia,  an 
enthusiastic  disciple  of  Charles  Fourier,  a  celebrated 
French  philosopher  and  inventor  of  a  new  system  of 
society,  published  a  work  entitled  "Social  Destiny  of 
M«n,"  etc.,  which,  seconded  by  the  writings  and  lectures 
of  such  men  as  Horace  Greeley,  Parke  Goodwin,  and 
Hev.  Win.  Henry  Chauning,  stimulated  the  rise  of  several 
Phalansterian  Associations,  as  they  were  termed,  in  the 
middle  and  western  states,  chiefest  of  which  was  "The 
North  American  Phalanx "  in  Moumouth  Co.,  N.  J. 
These  and  other  similar  movements  of  varying  type  and 
character,  ovnerated  by  the  spirit  that  was  abroad,  made 
the  land,  especially  the  Northern  portion  of  it  for  some 
years,  one  vast  theater  of  social  theorizing  and  experi- 
mentation. 

The  undertaking  of  which  I  am  writing  was  among  the 
earliest  of  these  referred  to,  and  its  origin  was  wholly 
independent  of  them  all.  Jt  was  strictly  of  Practical 
Christian  genesis,  and  for  some  time  we  who  were  inter- 
ested in  it  scarcely  knew  of  contemporaneous  projects  of 
a  like  nature.  We  very  soon,  however,  became  informed 
of  the  ideas  and  prospective  designs  of  Mr.  Ripley  and 
his  associates,  and  entered  into  correspondence  with  them, 
for  the  free  interchange  of  views  and  feelings  upon  the 
subject  of  absorbing  interest  to  both  parties.  It  was 
found  that  we  stood  in  most  friendly  relations  towards 
each  other,  and  that  in  many  things  we  occupied  common 
ground,  with  common  objects  to  be  attained.  To  such  an 
extent  was  this  the  case,  with  such  a  mutual  attraction 


26  THE   HOPEDALE   COMMUNITY. 

between  us,  that  at  one  time,  before  we  or  they  were 
fairly  organized  for  future  operations,  a  proposition  for 
a  formal  coalition  and  union  of  resources  and  forces  was 
seriously  considered.  Upon  conferring  together,  however, 
and  going  into  details,  this  was  decided  to  be  impracticable 
and  undesirable.  They  would  have  nothing  to  do  with 
our  Practical  Christian  Standard,  upon  which  our  proposed 
action  was  based,  and  we  were  unwilling  to  relinquish  its 
tests  and  obligations.  So  we  parted,  amicably  but  un- 
"  compromisingly.  They  abounded  in  educational  resources, 
in  literary  accomplishments,  and  aesthetic  tastes  :  and  also 
had  in  cheering  prospect  a  gratifying  amount  of  capital. 
In  these  respects  we  were  poor.  But  we  had  a  resolute 
spirit  and  a  determined  will.  Moreover,  we  knew  what 
it  was  to  work  hard,  to  live  on  small  means,  and  to  deny 
ourselves  for  conscience'  and  righteousness'  sake.  But  as 
we  could  not  agree  heartily  upon  what  we  each  deemed 
vital  to  our  movement,  we  went  respectively  our  own 
ways,  faithful  to  our  convictions  of  truth  and  duty  and 
wishing  each  other  well  in  the  premises.  They  were 
nearly  a  year  ahead  of  us  in  securing  a  location  and 
commencing  Community  life,  and  about  ten  years  our 
predecessors  in  terminating  their  experiment. 

As  for  ourselves,  we  made  advances  towards  the  organ- 
ization of  our  forces  and  a  settlement  upon  our  communal 
estate  as  rapidly  as  circumstances  would  permit,  and  more 
rapidly,  perhaps,  than  wisdom  and  prudence  dictated. 
Before  the  meeting  of  our  Quarterly  Conference  in  Janu- 
ary. 1841,  we  held  several  preliminary  gatherings  of  from 
ten  to  thirty  persons,  discussed  means  and  methods  of 
operation,  considered  and  amended  a  Constitution  which  I 
had  drafted,  and  had  given  it  our  approval.  So  that  when 
that  body  convened  on  the  27th  of  the  month,  everything 
was  ready  for  provisional  action.  Immediately  following 
the  customary  religious  exercises  of  the  occasion  came 
the  deliberate  and  careful  consideration  of  the  proposed 


CONSTITUTION  OF   A   COMMUNITY.  27 

plan  of  organization.  It  was  examined,  article  by  article, 
section  by  section,  discussed  in  all  its  details,  and,  after 
successive  adjournments,  unanimously  adopted  by  those 
prepared  to  unite  together  in  an  attempt  to  actualize  the 
object  it  contemplated  and  carry  its  several  provisions 
into  effect.  Its  reproduction  here  will  close  the  first 
chapter  of  this  History. 

"CONSTITUTION 

OF    THE 

FRATERNAL   COMMUNION. 

"  Know  all  men  : 

"That  in  order  more  effectually  to  illustrate  the  virtues  and 
promote  the  ends  of  pure  religion,  morality,  and  philanthropy; 
to  withstand  the  vices  and  reform  the  disorders  of  the  present 
social  state;  to  secure  to  our  posterity  the  blessings  of  a  more 
salutary,  physical,  intellectual,  and  moral  education :  to  establish 
a  more  attractive,  economical,  and  productive  system  of  indus- 
try; and  to  facilitate  the  honest  acquisition  of  individual 
property  for  laudable  purposes;  —  We  whose  names  are  here- 
unto annexed  do  unite  in  a  voluntary  Association  to  be  called 

THE  FRATERNAL  COMMUNION; 

And  we  do  adopt  and  ordain  for  our  Association  the  following 

CONSTITUTION. 

ARTICLE  I. 

"SECTION  1.  This  Association  shall  be  organized  in  distinct, 
independent  Communities,  unitedly  maintaining  a  general  fellow- 
ship, but  exercising  within  themselves  respectively  all  the  social 
powers,  rights,  and  immunities  of  Christian  commonwealths. 

"SEC.  2.  The  members  of  this  Communion  shall  meet  in 
Quarterly  and  General  Conferences,  for  religious  improvement 
and  fraternal  counsel,  at  such  times  and  places  as  may  in  the 
progress  of  events  be  found  expedient. 

"  SEC.  3.  The  general  meetings  shall  be  regulated  and  con- 
ducted according  to  such  rules  of  order  as  two-thirds  of  the 
members  in  attendance  for  may  the  time  being  agree  to  adopt. 


28  THE   HOPEDALE   COMMUNITY. 

ARTICLE  II. 

"SEC.  1.  Membership  in  this  Association  shall  be  acquired 
only  by  admission  into  some  one  of  its  Communities. 

"SEC.  2.  No  person  shall  be  a  member  of  any  Community 
who  does  not  deliberately  and  cordially  assent  to  the  annexed 

DECLARATION. 

"  I  believe  in  the  religion  of  Jesus  Christ,  as  he  taught  and 
exemplified  it  according  to  the  Scriptures  of  the  New  Testa- 
ment. I  acknowledge  myself  a  bounden  subject  of  all  its 
moral  obligations.  Especially  do  I  hold  myself  bound  by  its 
holy  requirements,  never,  under  any  pretext  whatsoever,  to 
kill,  assault,  beat,  torture,  enslave,  rob,  oppress,  persecute, 
defraud,  corrupt,  slander,  revile,  injure,  envy,  or  hate  any 
human  being,  even  my  worst  enemy;  never  in  any  manner  to 
violate  the  dictates  of  pure  chastity;  never  to  take  or  adminis- 
ter an  oath;  never  to  manufacture,  buy,  sell,  deal  out,  or  use 
any  intoxicating  liquor  as  a  beverage;  never  to  serve  in  the 
army,  navy,  or  militia  of  any  nation,  state,  or  chieftain ;  never 
to  bring  an  action  at  law,  hold  office,  vote,  join  a  legal  posse, 
petition  a  legislature,  or  ask  governmental  interposition,  in 
any  case  involving  a  final  authorized  resort  to  physical  violence; 
never  to  indulge  self-will,  bigotry,  love  of  pre-eminence,  covet- 
ousness,  deceit,  profanity,  idleness,  or  an  unruly  tongue ;  never 
to  participate  in  lotteries,  games  of  chance,  betting,  or  perni- 
cious amusements;  never  to  resent  reproof  nor  justify  myself 
in  a  known  wrong;  never  to  aid,  abet,  or  approve  others  in 
anything  sinful;  —  but  through  divine  assistance,  always  to 
recommend  and  promote,  with  my  entire  influence,  the  holiness 
and  happiness  of  all  mankind. 

"SEC.  3.     Any  person  eighteen  years  of    age,  thus  assenting 
( to  the  foregoing  Declaration,  may  be  proposed  for  membership 
1  at   any    regular   meeting   of   a   Community,    and    admitted    by 
vote. 

"  SEC.  4.  AnjT  person  may  cease  to  be  a  member  by  com- 
municating to  the  Secretary  of  his  or  her  Community  a  written 
notice  to  that  effect. 

"SEC.  5.  Any  unworthy  member,  having  proved  incorrigible, 
may  be  disowned  by  vote. 

"SEC.  6.  Every  Community  shall  be  distinguished  by  num- 
ber, according  to  the  date  of  its  formation,  and  shall  be 


CONSTITUTION  —  CONTINUED.  29 

uniformly  entitled,  in  all  written  instruments,  records,  and 
addresses,  Fraternal  Community  No.  1,  2,  3,  etc.,  as  the  case 
may  be.  And  every  such  Community  shall  keep  a  book  con- 
taining this  Constitution,  with  a  general  Register  of  all  its 
members  annexed ;  which  Register  shall  exhibit  in  distinct 
columns  the  following  particulars,  viz.:  —  their  names  at  full 
length,  place  of  nativity,  time  of  birth,  date  of  admission,  and 
general  calling,  together  with  blank  space  sufficient  to  minute 
their  death  or  disconnection  however  effected.  A  book  shall 
also  be  kept  by  every  Community  in  which  all  births,  mar- 
riages, and  deaths  shall  be  carefully  recorded. 

"SEC.  7.  All  members  of  every  Community  shall  stand  on 
a  footing  of  personal  equality,  irrespective  of  sex,  color,  occu- 
pation, wealth,  rank,  or  any  other  natural  or  adventitious  pecu- 
liarity. 

ARTICLE  III. 

"SEC.  1.  The  members  of  each  Community  in  this  Associa- 
tion shall  own  and  manage  such  and  so  much  real  and  mova- 
ble estate  in  Joint-Stock  proprietorship  as  they  may  from  time 
to  time  deem  best. 

"SEC.  2.  This  Joint-Stock  property  shall  be  created  by  sub- 
scription, in  negotiable  shares  of  fifty  dollars  each,  and  may 
be  increased  by  new  subscriptions  indefinitely  at  the  discretion 
of  the  Community. 

"  SEC.  3.  All  Joint-Stock  property  thus  created  shall  be  con- 
sidered as  existing  in  the  two  following  named  distinct  funds, 
viz. :  — the  consolidated  fund  and  the  floating  fund.  The  consol- 
idated fund  shall  cover  all  investments  in  real  estate  of  every 
description  whatsoever.  The  floating  fund  shall  cover  all  unex- 
pended cash,  moneys  due  the  Community,  and  movable  prop- 
erty in  possession  of  every  description.  And  all  accounts  shall 
be  kept  with  strict  reference  to  these  two  funds.  . 

"  SEC.  4.  No  Community  shall  invest  more  than  five-sixths 
of  its  Joint-Stock  property  in  real  estate,  except  for  temporary 
safe  keeping  under  peculiar  circumstances.  At  least  one-sixth 
shall  ordinarily  remain  in  the  floating  fund;  and  sufficient  cash 
be  retained  on  hand  to  meet  all  probable  necessities. 

"SEC.  5.  A  regular  subscription  book  shall  be  opened  and 
kept  in  every  Community,  which  shall  exhibit  the  terms  of 
subscription,  the  names  of  all  subscribers,  the  amount  sub- 


30  THE   HOPEDALE   COMMUNITY. 

scribed,  the  number  of  shares  taken,  the  time  when,  a  record 
of  all  certificates  of  stock  at  full  length,  and  a  minute  of  all 
transfers  of  shares. 

"SEC.  6.  Every  person,  on  payment  of  his  or  her  subscrip- 
tion to  the  Joint-Stock  property  of  any  Community,  shall 
receive  a  certificate  of  title  to  the  number  of  shares  taken, 
signed  by  the  presiding  executive  officer  thereof,  and  counter- 
signed by  the  Secretary;  which  certificate  sjiall  be  in  the  form 
following,  to  wit  :  — 

"  '  For  value   received,  A,  B,  or   order,  is   hereby  entitled   to 

—  shares  in  the  Joint-Stock  property  of  Fraternal  Commun* 
ity  No.  — ,  valued  at  —  —  dollars,  etc.,  together  with  such  divi- 
dends as  may  from  time  to  time  be  declared  thereon. 

"  '  Given    under    our    hands   at    -          -  this    day    of 

A.  D.,  . 

C.  D.,  Pres't. 

E.  F,  Sec'y.' 

"SEC.  7.  Whenever  any  stockholder  shall  be  desirous  of 
converting  his  or  her  stock,  or  any  part  thereof,  into  cash,  and 
no  purchaser  readily  appears  to  take  the  same,  the  Community 
shall,  if.  possible,  purchase  it  at  the  par  value  thereof,  and  pay 
the  amount  out  of  the  money  on  hand  in  the  floating  fund. 

"SEC.  8.  No  member  shall  ever  sell  any  share  of  the  Joint 
Stock  except  to  fellow  members,  without  first  offering  it  to 
the  Community. 

ARTICLE  IV. 

"SEC.  1.  The  members  of  every  Community  in  this  Asso- 
ciation shall,  if  practicable,  dwell  together,  on  their  own  soil,  in 
a  compact  neighborhood. 

"  SEC.  2.  They  shall  erect  in  each  Community,  at  their 
earliest  convenience,  one  or  more  spacious,  well-constructed 
mapsion-houses,  with  such  appurtenant  barns,  granaries,  work- 
shops, mills,  manufactories,  and  other  buildings,  as  they  may 
be  able,  and  deem  necessary.  These  mansion-houses,  with  their! 
appendages,  shall  be  called  Habitations,  and  shall  be  capable  j 
of  affording  comfortable  accommodations  to  one  hundred  per- 
sons, at  least,  and  as  many  more  as  may  be  found  expedient. 

"  SEC.  3.  All  Habitations,  with  their  surrounding  lands  and 
buildings,  shall  be  owned  and  controlled  solely  by  the  Com- 
munity within  whose  limits  they  are  comprised. 


CONSTITUTION  —  CONTINUED.  31 

ARTICLE  V. 

"  SEC.  1.  It  shall  be  considered  the  duty  and  the  privilege 
of  all  members  of  this  Association  in  every  Community,  and 
of  their  family  dependents,  unless  absolutely  incapacitated,  to 
perform  a  reasonable  amount  of  productive  labor,  either 
manual,  mental,  or  mixed,  in  some  department  of  useful 
industry. 

"SEC.  2.  To  this  end  each  Community  shall  endeavor  to 
provide  suitable  employment  for  every  individual  connected 
with  it;  which  various  employment  shall  be  adapted,  as  nearly 
as  the  case  will  admit,  to  the  genius  and  taste  of  the  several 
operatives. 

"  SEC.  3.  All  operatives  of  every  description,  whether  em- 
ployed at  home  or  abroad,  in  manual  labor,  or  as  business 
agents,  teachers,  or  missionaries,  eighteen  years  of  age  and 
upwards,  shall  be  allowed  one  uniform  rate  of  wages,  not  ex- 
ceeding fifty  cents  for  every  eight  hours  of  actual  service.  All 
persons  sent  out  on  business  agencies  shall  be  furnished  with  the 
means  of  defraying  their  extra  expenses.  All  literary,  philan- 
thropic, moral,  and  religious  teachers,  going  out  into  the  sur- 
rounding world  with  the  approbation  and  under  the  direction 
of  the  Community,  shall  be  considered  as  serving  forty -eight 
hours  per  week,  and  be  credited  accordingly.  And  for  all 
moneys,  or  other  goods,  received  from  the  people  among  whom 
they  may  exercise  their  gifts,  they  shall  account  to  the  Com- 
munity—  retaining  to  themselves  a  sufficient  amount  to  cover 
their  reasonable  extra  expenses. 

"  SEC.  4.  All  children  and  youth  under  eighteen  years  of  age 
connected  with  any  Community,  shall  be  allowed  wages  for 
all  labors  performed  not  exceeding  the  following  rates,  viz.: 
From  five  to  seven  years  of  age,  half  a  cent  an  hour;  from 
seven  to  nine,  one»  cent  an  hour;  from  nine  to  eleven,  two 
cents  an  hour;  from  eleven  to  fourteen,  three  cents  an  hour; 
from  fourteen  to  sixteen,  four  cents  an  hour;  and  from  sixteen 
to  eighteen,  five  cents  per  hour. 

"  SKC.  5.  Time  shall  always  be  reckoned  only  for  actual 
employment,  excluding  the  necessary  intermissions  of  rest  and 
refreshment,  and  shall  be  accounted  for  on  settlement  by  the 
year,  or  the  quarter,  or  the  next  longest  term  practicable. 
Where  wages  are  agreed  on  by  the  year,  quarter,  month,  or 
week,  the  average  of  eight  hours  to  the  day,  or  forty-eight 


32  THE   HOPEDALE   COMMUNITY. 

per  week,  shall  be  the  common  measure.  All  lost  time  worthy 
of  notice  shall  be  deducted,  and  all  extra  time  added,  each  at 
the  allowed  rate. 

"  SEC.  6.  All  work  executed  by  the  members  of  every 
Community  shall  be  wrought  in  a  thorough,  faithful,  and 
neatly  finished  style,  according  to  its  kind;  so  that  it  may 
reflect  honor  on  the  Association  and  command  the  confidence 
of  the  public. 

ARTICLE  VI. 

"  SEC.  1.  All  the  children  and  youth  connected  with  any 
Community  in  this  Association  shall  be  educated  in  the  most 
approved  manner.  Their  physical  education  shall  commence 
in_a  common  nursery,  furnished  and  attended  in  the  most 
appropriate  and  judicious  way;  into  which  they  may  be  re- 
ceived, with  the  consent  of  their  parents,  at  the  earliest  age. 
From  the  nursery,  at  the  age  of  two  or  three  years,  they  shall 
be  introduced  into  well-ordered  infant  school  classes,  and  thence- 
forth advanced  from  stage  to  stage  of  physical,  intellectual,  and 
moral  improvement  till  maturity. 

"  SEC.  2.  All  education  in  this  Communion  shall  be  con- 
ducted on  the  manual  labor  principle,  and  with  a  view  to 
qualify  every  youth  for  the  actual  business  of  life,  each 
according  to  natural  genius,  taste,  and  passion. 

"  SEC.  3.  No  charge  shall  be  made  by  any  Community, 
(except  for  books  and  stationery,)  on  account  of  education, 
literary  advantages,  or  religious  instruction.  These,  and  all 
privileges  naturally  connected  with  them,  shall  be  free  to  the 
individual  members  with  their  respective  family  dependents, 
and  shall  be  supported  by  each  Community  at  large,  out  of 
its  floating  fund  or  ordinary  resources. 

ARTICLE  VII. 

"SEC.  1.  All  persons  connected  with  any  Community  in  this 
Association,  except  as  designated  in  the  5th  section  of  this 
article,  shall  be  considered  regular  boarders  and  charged  a 
certain  price  per  week  for  their  accommodations. 

"  SEC.  2.  Board  shall  include  suitable  house-room,  food, 
lodging,  bathing,  light,  heat,  washing  and  ironing,  medicine, 
medical  attendance,  (unless  called  from  abroad,)  and  proper 
nursing  when  necessary;  and  shall  be  afforded  at  prices  not 


CONSTITUTION    OF   FRATERNAL    COMMUNION.  33 

exceeding  the  following-named  per  week,  viz.:  From  birth  until 
seven  years  of  age,  fifty  cents;  from  seven  years  till  twelve, 
seventy-five  cents;  from  twelve  years  and  upwards,  one  dollar. 

"SEC.  3.  An  ample  fare  shall  be  agreed  on,  provided,  and 
served,  by  each  Community  to  all  its  boarders,  either  in  com- 
mons, in  select  messes,  or  private  families,  as  may  have  been 
stipulated. 

"  SEC.  4.  Families  served  with  their  food  in  private  apart- 
ments or  separate  tenements,  shall  furnish  their  rooms  with 
bedding,  chairs,  tables,  crockery,  and  every  other  necessary 
article  of  household  convenience,  at  their  own  expense.  In 
all  other  respects  they  shall  fare  and  be  treated  like  those 
who  take  their  meals  in  the  public  eating  rooms. 

"SEC.  5.  Whenever  any  family  belonging  to  a  Community 
shall  anxiously  desire  to  keep  house,  cook,  and  board  them- 
selves in  a  separate  tenement,  they  shall  be  furnished  with 
house-rent,  fuel,  bread-stuffs,  and  all  the  staple  necessaries  and 
comforts  of  subsistence  at  a  fair  price. 

"  SEC.  6.  Each  Community  shall  endeavor  to  grow,  manu- 
facture, or  purchase  at  wholesale,  all  articles  of  necessary 
consumption ;  so  as  to  keep  in  store  an  adequate  supply  for 
the  wants  of  all  its  members  and  dependents.  And  every  item 
sold  out  of  the  Community  stores,  or  furnished  at  a  price,  to 
any  member  of  this  Communion,  or  to  any  family  dependent 
of  such  member,  shall  be  afforded  at  cost,  as  nearly  as  the 
same  can  be  ascertained. 

"SEC.  7.  All  labor  performed  for  any  Community  shall  be 
credited;  board  and  all  other  articles  furnished  shall  be 
charged;  and  a  complete  settlement  shall  be  made  with  every 
individual,  at  least  once  a  year. 

ARTICLE  VIII. 

"  SEC.  1.  All  losses  of  real  estate  from  any  cause  whatso- 
ever, exceeding  the  sum  of  three  hundred  dollars  in  any  one* 
year,  shall  be  borne  by  the  stockholders  of  a  Community,  and 
repaired  by  an  equitable  assessment  on  their  shares.  All  other 
losses,  whether  of  real  or  movable  estate  belonging  to  the 
Community,  shall  be  borne  by  such  Community  out  of  its. 
floating  fund.  The  public  taxes,  ordinary  repairs  of  buildings,, 
and  all  other  incidental  current  expenses  of  every  description^ 
shall  be  paid  out  of  the  floating  fund. 


34  THE   HOPEDALE   COMMUNITY. 

"  SEC.  2.  The  clear  profits  of  every  Community  shall  be 
divided  among  the  members  thereof,  and  members  only,  ac- 
cording to  capital  invested  and  labor  performed.  The  shares 
of  Joint-Stock  shall  receive  five-twelfths  of  such  profits,  and 
labor  seven-twelfths.  Every  member  owning  shares  shall  re- 
ceive a  dividend  of  the  profits  accruing  to  capital,  according 
to  the  number  of  such  shares:  and  every  member  shall  receive 
a  dividend  of  the  profits  accruing  to  labor,  according  to  the 
time  credited  to  him  or  her  on  the  books  of  the  Community. 

"  SEC.  3.  Provided,  nevertheless,  that  capital  shall  never 
receive  profits  exceeding  an  amount  equal  to  six  per  cent,  per 
annum,  simple  interest,  for  the  whole  time  of  its  investment 
in  the  funds  of  the  Community.  Nor  shall  labor  beyond  the 
average  of  forty-eight  hours  per  week,  nor  that  of  minors 
under  eighteen  years  of  age,  nor  the  services  of  any  other 
person,  ever  entitle  any  member  to  profits. 

ARTICLE  IX. 

"  Every  Community  in  this  Association  shall  stand  forever 
pledged  to  the  relief  and  comfortable  maintenance  of  all  its 
members  who  may  become  destitute  of  pecuniary  resources; 
and  also  of  their  widows  and  orphans,  so  long  as  they  shall 
conform  to  wholesome  rules  and  regulations. 

ARTICLE  X. 

"  SEC.  1.  Each  Community  in  this  Association  shall  hold 
an  annual  meeting  for  the  choice  of  official  servants,  the  hear- 
ing of  reports,  and  the  transaction  of  other  necessary  business. 

"  SEC.  2.  All  official  servants  shall  continue  to  discharge  the 
proper  duties  of  their  offices  till  others  are  chosen  and  prepared 
to  serve  in  their  stead. 

"  SEC.  3.  Special  meetings  may  be  called  and  holden  on 
seven  days  notice.  And  such  meetings  shall  be  called  and 
holden  whenever  seven  members  may  request  the  same  in 
writing. 

"  SEC.  4.  The  manner  of  calling,  notifying,  and  conducting 
meetings  shall  be  prescribed  by  vote  of  the  Community. 

"  SEC.  5.  Every  member  shall  have  one  and  but  one  vote 
on  all  questions;  and  the  concurrence  of  two  thirds  of  all  the 
members  present  and  acting  shall  always  be  necessary  to  a 
decision. 


CONSTITUTION   OF   FRATERNAL   COMMUNION.  35 

"  SEC.  6.  Nine  members  shall  be  requisite  to  constitute  a 
quorum  for  the  transaction  of  business,  but  a  less  number 
may  adjourn. 

AUTICLE  XL 

"  SEC.  1.  The  official  servants  annually  chosen  by  every 
Community  in  this  Association,  shall  be  a  President,  Secre- 
tary, Auditor,  and  six  Intendants,  viz.:  an  Intendant  of 
Finance  and  Exchange,  an  Intendant  of  Agriculture  and 
Animals,  an  Intendant  of  Manufactures  and  Mechanical  In- 
dustry, an  Intendant  of  Health  and  Domestic  Economy,  an 
Intendant  of  Education,  Arts,  and  Sciences,  and  an  Intendant 
of  Religion,  Morals,  and  Missions. 

"  SEC.  2.  The  President  and  these  six  Intendants  shall 
constitute,  ex  officio,  a  Board  of  Trustees,  in  whose  name  the 
whole  property  of  their  Community  shall  be  holden  and  man- 
aged for  the  common  benefit. 

"SEC.  3.  These  official  servants  shall  also  constitute,  ex 
officio,  the  Executive  Council  of  their  Community,  with  plenary 
authority  to  select  and  appoint  all  managers,  foremen,  over- 
seers, directors,  and  agents,  necessary  to  its  complete  industrial 
organization.  Also  to  approve  and  recommend  all  teachers, 
lecturers,  ministers  of  the  Gospel,  and  missionaries,  going  out 
from  the  Community  under  its  direction  or  in  its  general 
service. 

"  SEC.  4.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  Executive  Council  to 
arrange  all  the  business  interests  and  affairs  of  their  Commu- 
nity into  six  general  departments,  each  having  its  appropriate 
branches,  in  such  a  manner  that  every  person,  thing,  and 
particular  matter  of  concern,  may  be  under  the  oversight  of 
the  Intendant  to  whom  the  same  most  naturally  belongs.  And 
the  several  Intendants  shall  be  considered  responsible  for  the 
orderly  management  and  good  condition  of  their  respective 
departments. 

"SEC.  5.  The  Executive  Council,  through  the  President, 
shall  make  a  clear  detailed  report  of  the  standing  of  their 
Community  in  all  its  departments,  at  least  once  a  year,  and 
as  much  oftener  as  the  members  may  by  vote  demand. 

"SEC.  6.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  Secretary  to  act  as 
Clerk  of  the  Community,  the  Board  of  Trustees,  and  the 
Executive  Council,  and  to  keep  full,  fair,  well-ordered  records 


36  THE   HOPEDALE   COMMUNITY. 

of  their  proceedings,  and  of  all  other  matters  properly  coming 
within  his  province. 

"  SEC.  7.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  Auditor  to  examine 
and  attest  all  pecuniary  accounts  kept  by  the  Community,  and 
to  guard  its  financial  statistics,  if  possible,  from  error. 

"  SEC.  8.  The  proper  duties  of  the  Treasurer,  as  well  as  of 
general  Purveyor  and  Accountant  of  the  Community,  shall  be 
performed  by  the  Intendant  of  Finance  and  Exchange.  He 
shall  receive,  safely  keep,  and  justly  account  for  all  moneys 
accruing  to  the  Community,  and  pay  them  out,  under  such 
regulations  as  may  from  time  to  time  be  ordained.  He  shall 
keep  all  his  accounts  by  the  most  approved  method,  and  in 
such  a  form  and  state  that  his  books  may  at  all  times  exhibit 
the  true  financial  standing  of  the  Community  in  its  several 
funds  and  interests. 

"  SEC.  9.  No  official  servant,  manager,  foreman,  overseer, 
director,  or  agent  of  a  Community,  shall  ever  receive  any 
salary,  or  other  compensation  whatsoever,  exceeding  the  estab- 
lished rate  of  wages  allowed  to.  the  members  at  large. 

ARTICLE  XII. 

"  SEC.  1.  It  shall  be  the  settled  policy  and  a  fundamental 
principle  with  every  Community  in  this  Association,  never  to 
contract  any  debt  or  obligation  of  suretyship  out  of  the  pale 
of  its  own  membership,  nor  within  that  pale  beyond  temporary 
occasional  necessity  in  the  management  of  its  internal  affairs. 
Nor  shall  the  goods  or  productions  of  any  Community  ever 
be  sold  on  credit  to  the  surrounding  world. 

"  SEC.  2.  All  moneys  to  be  expended  for  land,  stock,  goods, 
or  any  other  object,  by  the  Trustees,  Executive  Council,  or 
Intendants  of  any  Community,  shall  first  be  appropriated  by 
vote  thereof  at  some  regular  meeting. 

ARTICLE  XIII. 

"  All  matters  of  serious  controversy  arising  in  any  Commu- 
nity of  this  Association,  shall  be  tried  and  determined  in  the 
first  instance  by  a  mutual  council,  and  upon  failure  thereof, 
finally,  by  a  jury  of  twelve  impartial  members. 

ARTICLE  XIV. 

"  Every  Community  in  this  Association  may  enact  and  estab- 
lish such  By-Laws,  Rules  and  Regulations,  not  inconsistent 


FRATERNAL   COMMUNITY   NO.    1   FORMED.  37 

with  the  general  spirit  and  object  of  this  Constitution,  as  may 
be  found  necessary  to  its  good  order  and   general  welfare. 

ARTICLE  XV. 

"  The  Constitution  of  this  Communion  may  be  altered  or 
amended  by  a  vote  of  three-fourths  of  all  its  members  specially 
convened  for  that  purpose,  either  in  their  respective  Commu- 
nities or  in  general  Conference:  provided,  always,  that  every 
such  alteration  or  amendment  shall  be  proposed  in  writing, 
and  publicly  announced  to  the  members  at  least  thirty  days 
preceeding  the  time  of  its  regular  consideration. 

"Now,  therefore,  in  solemn  ratification  of  this  Constitution 
in  all  its  Articles  and  Sections,  and  for  the  formation  of 
Fraternal  Community,  No.  1,  we  have  severally  caused  our 
names  to  be  hereunto  annexed. 

u  Adin  Ballou,  Lucy  Hunt  Ballou,  David  Rich  Lamson.  Mary 
Lamson,  George  Whittemore  Stacy,  Daniel  Sanderson  Whitney, 
William  Henry  Fish,  Ann  Eliza  Fish,  Levi  Tower.  Henry 
Lillie,  Caroline  Hayden  Lillie,  Samuel  Silsbee  Brown,  Mary 
Louisa  Brown,  Amos  Wood  Pitts,  Mary  Ann  Pitts,  Perry 
Thayer,  Charlotte  Taft  Thayer,  Nathan  Harris,  Martha  Harris, 
William  Walker  Cook,  Abigail  Draper  Cook,  Charles  Gladding, 
Ruth  Shove  Gladding,  Jemima  Sherman,  Ebenezer  Daggett 
Draper,  Anna  Thwing  Draper,  John  Wheeler,  Miriam  P. 
Wheeler,  Lemuel  Munyan,  Emily  Gay,  Samuel  Colburn,  Barbara 
Earker  Colburn." 


CHAPTER    II. 

1841. 

PLANS  OF  COMMUNITY  ACTION  —  COUNSELS  AND  CAUTIONS  — 
A  HOME   SECURED,  CHRISTENED,  AND  OCCUPIED. 

TT  will  have  been  observed  by  the  careful  reader,  that, 
•*•  according  to  the  terms  of  the  final  clause  of  the  Con- 
stitution presented  on  the  last  few  pages,  the  act  of 
ratifying  that  instrument,  accompanied  by  the  formal  sign- 
ing of  the  same,  was  also  the  act  of  forming  a  working 
body  under  its  general  provisions  to  be  called  Fraternal 
Community  No.  1,  of  which  the  persons  whose  names 
are  appended  to  it,  thirty-two  in  number,  were  the  origi- 
nal! members.  This  being  accomplished,  those  composing 
the  new  organization  resolved  themselves  at  once  into  a 
special  deliberative  assembly,  for  the  purpose  of  transact- 
ing such  other  items  of  business  as  at  the  time  seemed 
calculated  to  promote  still  further  the  great  objects  they 
had  in  view.  A  record  of  the  proceedings  of  that  first 
meeting  of  the  Community  after  it  was  regularly  insti- 
tuted was  made  and  preserved,  and  is  herein  presented 
in  full: 

"At  a  regular  meeting  of  the  members  of  Fraternal  Com- 
munity, Xo.  1,  holden  in  Mendon,  Mass.,  Jan.  28,  1841,  David 
R.  Lamson  acting  as  President,  and  Adin  Ballon  as  Secretary,, 
the  following  votes  were  passed  unanimously: 

"Voted,  That  the  choice  of  our  regular  official  servants  be 
deferred  for  the  present,  and  that  a  Provisional  Committee  of 
seven  members  be  chosen,  with  the  following  special  instruc- 
tions and  powers,  viz.  : 


RECORD   OF   FIRST   COMMUNITY   MEETING.  39 

"(1)  To  procure  suitable  Record  and  Account  Books,  or  so 
many  as  may  for  the  present  be  found  necessary,  and  cause 
the  Constitution  to  be  properly  inscribed. 

"(2)  To  receive  subscriptions  to  the  Constitution  and  to  the 
Joint-Stock. 

"(3)  To  receive  and  account  for  any  moneys  that  may  be 
paid  into  the  treasury. 

"(4)  To  prepare  a  suitable  Exposition  of  the  Constitution. 

"(5)  To  cause  500  copies  of  the  Constitution  and  Exposition 
to  be  printed  in  The  Practical  Christian,  and  an  equal  number 
in  the  form  of  a  tract  or  pamphlet. 

"(6)  To  collect  such  information  as  they  may  be  able  re- 
specting a  location  for  this  Community;  respecting  the  form 
and  construction  of  building's;  respecting  the  internal  economy 
of  social  communities,  hospitals,  and  large  boarding  establish- 
ments; respecting  agriculture,  manufactures,  and  education ;  and 
respecting  any  other  matters  likely  to  promote  the  prosperity 
of  our  enterprise. 

"(7)  To  purchase  such  books  and  treatises,  not  exceeding 
the  cost  of  ten  dollars,  on  agriculture,  manufactures,  education, 
and  other  subjects,  as  they  deem  particularly  necessary. 

"(8)  To  call  a  meeting  of  the  Community  and  report  their 
doings  as  soon  as  circumstances  will  in  their  opinion  warrant. 

"Voted,  That  the  following  named  members  do  constitute 
said  Committee,  viz.:  Adin  Ballou,  Nathan  Harris,  AA4m.  H. 
Fish,  Henry  Lillie,  David  R.  Lamson,  Daniel  S.  Whitney,  and 
Geo.  VV.  Stacy. 

"Voted,  That  the  sum  of  one  hundred  dollars  be  appropriated 
to  the  use  of  the  Provisional  Committee  for  the  purposes  of 
their  appointment. 

Voted,  That  the  Joint-Stock  subscription  terms  of  this  Com- 
munity be  in  the  form  following,  to  wit: 

"SUBSCRIPTION  TO  THE  JOINT-STOCK  PROPRIETORSHIP 

OF 
FRATERNAL   COMMUNITY,   NO.    1. 

"In  conformity  to  the  Constitution  adopted,  ordained,  and 
ratified  by  the  members  of  Fraternal  Community,  No.  1,  we, 
the  undersigned,  do  severally  subscribe  to  the  Joint-Stock 
property  of  said  Community  and  promise  to  pay  into  the 
treasury  thereof  in  current  money  or  some  acceptable  equiva- 


40  THE   HOPEDALE   COMMUNITY. 

lent  at  our  earliest  convenience  after  demand,  the  sums 
designated  and  covering  the  shares  noted  opposite  our  respec- 
tive names;  the  said  Joint-Stock  property  and  every  share 
thereof  to  be  forever  holden,  controlled,  regulated,  subjected, 
privileged,  and  entitled,  in  all  respects,  strictly  according  to 
the  provisions  and  specifications  of  said  Constitution. 

"  Names .  Sums .  Xo.  Shares .  Place  and 

Date  -  — . 

"Voted,  That  this  meeting  be  now  dissolved." 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Provisional  Committee  subsequeDtly 
holden,  Adiii  Ballon  was  chosen  a  sub-committee  to  draft, 
prepare  for  the  press,  and  publish  an  Exposition  of  the 
Constitution.  I  at  once  addressed  myself  to  the  task 
thus  assigned  me  by  my  associates,  producing  a  document 
of  great  length,  explaining  and  illustrating  in  detail  every 
article,  section,  and  phrase  almost  of  the  instrument,  in. 
order  that  it  might  be  intelligible  to  the  average  mind  of 
those  likely  to  be  interested  in  it  and  in  the  cause  it  was 
designed  to  advance.  Though  serving  well  in  its  time 
the  purpose  for  which  it  was  designed,  it  does  not  seem 
needful  to  reproduce  it  in  the  present  volume.  It  was 
printed  as  a  supplement  to  the  Constitution  in  The  Prac- 
tical Christian  of  February  15,  1841,  and  both  were 
reprinted  in  pamphlet  form  directly  afterward,  and  scat- 
tered far  and  wide  among  the  friends  of  reform  and  in 
the  general  community.  In  this  way  was  our  movement, 
now  fairly  inaugurated,  advertised  extensively  throughout 
large  sections  of  the  country,  intensifying  the  enthusiasm 
of  those  who  sympathized  with  us,  exciting  the  curiosity 
of  strangers,  and  calling  out  in  various  ways  the  adverse 
criticism  and  sometimes  scorn  of  unbelievers  and  oppos- 
ers.  Besides  the  publicity  which  we  ourselves  gave  it,  the 
knowledge  of  it  was  considerably  extended  by  the  early 
appearance  of  our  Constitution  in  the  columns  of  The 
Liberator,  through  the  unsolicited  favor  of  our  friend,  the 
editor,  William  Lloyd  Garrison. 


HOW   THE   MOVEMENT   WAS    REGARDED.  41 

It  may  be  Questioned  whether  it  was  wise  to  make  our 
humble  experiment  so  generally  known  at  the  outset, 
inasmuch  as  it  naturally  raised  expectations  in  many 
quarters  that  could  not  possibly  be  realized,  and  multi- 
plied applications  for  membership  with  us  to  an  extent 
beyond  our  ability  to  accept  them  and  of  a  character 
sometimes  calculated  to  hinder  rather  than  help  in  our 
contemplated  work.  But  our  hope  and  zeal  overmastered 
our  prudence,  and  we  pressed  forward  more  rapidly,  per- 
haps, than  a  more  cautious  sagacity  would  warrant.  And 
yet  had  we  not  done  so,  our  undertaking  would  very 
likely  have  been  deferred  to  an  indefinite  future,  or,  more 
probably,  abandoned  altogether.  This,  in  my  judgment, 
would  have  been  most  unfortunate  for  the  cause  of  truth 
and  for  humanity,  because  the  attempt  with  all  its  experi- 
ences and  lessons  was  a  providential  step  in  the  march 
of  human  progress  and  a  needful  preparation  for  more 
wisely-planned  and  better-conditioned  efforts  yet  to  be 
put  forth  in  behalf  of  the  regeneration  of  society  —  efforts 
which,  I  believe,  are  some  day  to  achieve  a  richly  merited 
and  glorious  success. 

No  sooner  had  our  Constitution  and  the  accompanying 
Exposition  reached  the  great  public  to  which  they  were 
sent,  than  letters  of  inquiry,  sympathy,  and  encourage- 
ment, as  also  of  caution  and  admonition,  poured  in  upon 
us  from  all  directions.  They  were  largely  from  persons 
of  philanthropic  spirit,  who  were  ready  to  welcome  and 
befriend  any  new  method  or  movement  which  had  in  it 
the  potency  and  promise  of  succor  and  redemption  to  man- 
kind. The  devotees  and  representatives  of  the  churches, 
orthodox  and  heteradox  alike,  gave  us  little  heed  in  their 
published  journals,  by  correspondence,  or  otherwise.  They 
were  bound  to  a  theoretical  and  dogmatical  Christianity, 
not  to  a  practical  one ;  and  held  fast  to  traditional 
methods  of  saving  men  and  bringing  in  the  kingdom  of 
heaven,  caring  little  or  nothing  for  any  freshly  devised 


42  THE   HOPEDALE   COMMUNITY. 

schemes  or  plans  whereby  those  devoutly-to-be-wished-for 
ends  were  to  be  achieved.  In  their  judgment,  there  was 
no  new  light  of  this  sort  to  break  forth  from  the  word 
of  God. 

There  were,  however,  some  very  notable  and  gratifying 
exceptions  to  this  generally  prevailing  indifference  and 
silent  disregard  or  contempt.  Chief est  among  these  and 
pre-eminently  important  and  valuable,  was  a  communica- 
tion from  a  no  less  distinguished  scholar,  philanthropist, 
and  divine  than  Rev.  William  Ellery  Chauniug,  D.  D.,  of 
Boston,  to  which  I  am  moved  to  give  a  place  in  this 
connection.  It  appears  in  full  in  his  "Memoirs,"  pre- 
pared by  his  nephew,  William  Henry  Channing,  pp.  119— 
122,  Vol  III.  It  was  addressed  to  me  personally  and 
reads  as  follows  : 

"BOSTON,  Feb.  27,  1841. 

"My  Dear  Sir:  I  received  your  'Constitution  and  Exposi- 
tion '  yesterday,  and  my  early  reply  will  prove  my  interest  in 
your  proposed  '  Fraternal  Community.' 

"Your  ends,  objects,  seem  to  me  important.  I  see,  I  feel,  the 
great  evils  of  our  present  social  state.  The  flesh  predominates 
over  the  spirit,  the  animal  over  the  intellectual  and  moral  life. 
The  consciousness  of  the  worth  of  the  human  soul,  of  what 
man  was  made  to  be,  is  almost  wholly  lost;  aud  in  this  igno- 
rance all  our  social  relations  must  be  mournfully  defective,  and 
the  highest  claims  of  man  very  much  overlooked.  I  earnestly 
desire  to  witness  some  change  by  which  the  mass  of  men  may 
be  released  from  their  present  anxious  drudgery,  may  cease 
to  be  absorbed  in  cares  and  toils  for  the  body,  and  may  so 
combine  labor  with  a  system  of  improvement  that  they  will 
find  in  it  a  help,  not  a  degrading  burdsn.  I  have  for  a  very  long 
time  dreamed  of  an  association,  in  which  the  members,  instead 
of  preying  on  one  another  and  seeking  to  put  one  another 
down,  after  the  fashion  of  this  world,  should  live  together  as 
brothers,  seeking  one  another's  elevation  and  spiritual  growth. 
But  the  materials  for  such  a  community  I  have  not  seen. 
Your  ends,  therefore,  are  very  dear  to  me. 

"  How  far  you  have  adopted  the  best  means  of  realizing 
them,  and  whether  they  can  be  realized  in  the  present  low 


LETTER   OF   REV.   WM.    ELLERY   CHANNING.    D.  D.         43 

condition  of  individual  Christians,  are  different  questions,  and 
most  men  would  give  a  negative  answer.  I  do  not,  however, 
discourage  any  sincere  efforts  for  social  or  individual  improve- 
ment, but  would  say,  God  speed  you!  There  is  a  tone  of  faith 
and  sincerity  in  your  document  which  gives  me  hope,  and  yet 
I  cannot  say  that  I  am  without  fear.  I  have  lived  so  much 
out  of  the  world  of  business,  I  have  had  so  few  connections 
with  society  except  those  of  a  religious  teacher,  that  I  cannot 
judge  of  the  obstructions  you  are  to  meet.  The  grand  obsta-' 
cle  to  success,  however,  I  do  understand,  and  you  ought  to* 
look  at  it  fully.  It  consists  in  the  difficulty  of  reconciling  so 
many  wills,  of  bringing  so  many  individuals  to  such  a  unity 
of  feeling  and  judgment  as  is  necessary  to  the  management  of 
an  extensive  common  concern, —  in  the  difficulty  of  preventing 
the  interference,  inter-meddling,  harsh-judging,  evil-speaking,, 
self-will,  jealousies,  exaction?,  and  love  of  sway,  which  scatter 
discord  and  woe  through  all  our  social  relations.  The  Catholics 
have  provided  against  these  evils  in  their  religious  communities 
by  establishing  absolute  power,  and  teaching  the  members 
that  the  first  duty  is  obedience.  Whether  sufficient  unity  can 
be  preserved  in  a  free  institution  built  on  the  foundation  of 
brotherhood  and  equality,  remains  to  be  proved.  I  wish  you 
to  try  it,  and,  in  order  to  success,  I  wish  you  all  to  look  the 
difficulty  in  the  face  and  to  feel  that  it  is  indeed  a  great  oner 
—  one  to  be  overcome  only  by  habitual  self-denial,  by  the 
special  culture  of  humility,  meekness,  and  charity. 

"  There  are  undoubtedly  dangers  attending  every  social 
condition.  These  we  are  to  understand  that  we  may  watch 
against  them.  The  evils  to  be  feared  in  a  Community  like 
yours  are,  the  loss  of  individual  energy  in  consequence  of 
dependence  on  the  Community,  the  increased  facility  given 
to  the  sluggish  of  throwing  the  burden  of  toil  on  their  better- 
disposed  brethren,  the  relaxation  of  domestic  ties  in  conse- 
quence of  the  virtual  adoption  of  the  children  by  the  Com- 
munity, the  diminution  of  free  thought  and  free  action  in 
consequence  of  the  necessity  of  conforming  to  the  will  of  the 
majority  or  the  intendant,  the  tendency  to  narrowness  and 
exclusiveness,  and  the  tendency  to  a  dull  monotony  of  mind 
and  life  in.  consequence  of  confinement  to  a  few  influences. 
These  evils  are  not  imaginary.  There  is  danger  of  losing,  in 
such  establishments,  individuality,  animation,  force,  and  enlarge- 


44  THE   HOPEDALE   COMMUNITY. 

ment  of  mind.  Your  security  must  be  sought  in  carrying  out 
the  principles  of  freedom  and  philanthropy  to  which  you 
attach  so  much  importance. 

"1  am  aware  of  the  many  economical  advantages  arising 
from  the  gathering  of  the  Community  into  one  habitation;  but 
there  are  disadvantages.  There  is  reason  to  fear  that  families 
will  not  be  sufficiently  separate,  and  that  the  domestic  feelings 
may  be  thus  impaired;  and,  perhaps,  still  more,  that  individuals 
will  lose  that  spirit  of  solitude,  retirement,  secret  thought,  and 
secret  piety,  without  which  social  relations  are  full  of  peril  and 
the  character  loses  strength  and  dignity.  These  dangers  seem 
to  me  to  require  distinct  guards. 

"  I  should  have  been  pleased  to  see  in  the  articles  some 
recognition  of  the  importance  of  courteous  manners.  The  im- 
portance of  these  in  keeping  alive  mutual  respect  and  kindness 
is  great.  In  this  country  we  suffer  much  from  coarseness  of 
manner.  Refinement,  .mutual  deference,  delicacy  of  inter- 
course, are  among  the  fruits  of  Christianity,  and  very  needful 
in  such  a  gathering  as  you  propose.  If  I  were  to  visit  a 
Community  and  see  the  floor  defiled  by  spittle,  I  could  not 
easily  believe  that  the  members  respected  one  another,  or  that, 
with  such  violations  of  neatness  and  decorum,  there  could  be 
much  aspiration  for  inward  purity.  Just  in  proportion  as 
Christians  come  to  recognize  in  one  another  the  spiritual,  im- 
mortal children  of  God,  an  unaffected  deference  will  mark  the 
tones  of  the  voice  and  the  manners,  and  the  reaction  of  this 
deference  on  the  sentiment  from  which  it  springs  is  very  great. 
Where  such  deportment  prevails,  there  will  be  no  difficulty 
about  reproof.  Kind,  courteous  reproof,  which  is  seen  and 
felt  to  come  from  love,  does  not  wound.  Indeed,  in  such 
a  society  there  will  be  little  to  reprove. 

"I  trust  that  this  letter  will  be  a  testimony  of  my  sincere 
interest  in  your  movements.  I  pray  God  to  bless  you.  I 
should  die  in  greater  peace,  could  I  see  in  any  quarter  the 
promise  of  a  happier  organization  of  society.  I  am  burdened 
in  spirit  by  what  I  see.  May  the  dawn  of  something  better 
visit  my  eyes  before  they  are  closed  in  death! 

"When  you  visit  Boston  I  shall  be  glad  to  see  you. 

"  YOUR  FRIEND  AND  BROTHER. 

"  P.  S.  I  ought,  perhaps,  to  say  that  I  am  not  prepared  to 
subscribe  to  all  the  articles  of  your  'Declaration,'  but  I  do  not 


COMMENTS    ON   DR.    CHANNING'S   LETTER.  45 

blame  those  who  hold  them  for  making  them  the  foundation 
of  the  Community.  It  should  be  understood,  however,  that 
you  do  not  limit  your  Christian  communion  to  those  who  agree 
with  you  on  all  these  points.  You  can  and  ought  to  recog- 
nize as  Christians  very  many  with  whom  you  have  no  desire 
to  live  on  the  same  farm  and  in  the  same  <  habitation.'  " 

How  Doble,  elevated,  wise,  benevolent,  and  fraternal  the 
utterances  of  this  epistle !  Dr.  Chanuing  was  centuries 
in  advance  not  only  of  the  great  mass  of  the  nominal 
Christian  church,  but  of  the  majority  claiming  to  be 
Liberal  Christians.  What  a  confession  he  made  in  say- 
ing, "The  materials  for  a  such  a  Community  I  have  not 
seen;"  that  is.  one  in  which  the  members  "should  live 
together  as  brethren,  seeking  one  another's  elevation  and 
spiritual  growth."  And  yet  he  had  known  thousands  of 
professed  Christians  in  the  course  of  Ms  life.  During 
his  earlier  years  he  must  have  been  acquainted  with  large 
numbers  of  New  England  church  members  who  claimed 
to  have  been  "born  again"  and  to  have  become  "new 
creatures  in  Christ ; "  and  later  on  he  was  intimate  with 
the  very  flower  of  dissenters  from  the  "orthodox" 
standards,  who  gloried  in  the  sublime  doctrines  of  the 
fatherhood  of  God  and  the  brotherhood  of  man.  Never- 
theless, the  materials  of  a  truly  fraternal  Community 
composed  of  people  honestly  striving  to  live  by  the 
principles  and  precepts  of  the  Gospel  of  Christ  he  had 
never  beheld !  What  a  commentary  on  the  nominal 
Christianity  of  the  world !  ! 

That  the  counsels  and  admonitions  which  Dr.  Charming 
by  his  sagacity  and  candor  was  prompted  to  offer  us  were 
well  founded  and  appropriate,  was  demonstrated  in  our 
Hopedale  experience  at  an  early  day.  The  very  difficul- 
ties which  he  suggestively  pointed  out  in  his  letter,  we 
were  obliged  to  encounter,  spite  of  all  our  sanguine  hopes 
and  resolves,  and  they  finally  proved  too  much  for  our 
virtue  and  wisdom.  Instead  of  rising  above  and  over- 
coming them,  we  were  in  the  end  overcome  by  them. 


46  THE   HOPEDALE   COMMUNITY. 

It  is  proper  to  state  that  beside  the  sympathy  and  best 
wishes  of  the  eminent  and  world-renowned  clergyman  men- 
tioned, we  had  also  those  of  Revs.  Samuel  J.  May,  Wm. 
P.  Tilden,  and  a  few  others  of  the  Unitarian  ministry, 
Imt  the  mass  of  them  probably  regarded  us  as  pitiable 
fanatics  and  gave  us  no  heed.  Much  the  same  was  true 
of  the  occupants  of  the  Universalist  pulpit :  a  few  hoped 
for  our  success  and  bade  us  God  speed,  but  the  many 
were  utterly  skeptical  in  respect  to  our  movement,  even  if 
they  did  not  contemn  it,  and  kept  silent.  The  preachers 
among  us  had  all  belonged  to  the  Massachusetts  Associa- 
tion of  Restorationists,  and  consequently  were  not  in  very 
good  repute  with  the  Universalist  denomination  from 
which  most  of  them  had  aforetime  seceded. 

But  we  were  in  no  better  standing  with  the  conserva- 
tive wing  of  the  Restoratiouist  body,  which  actually 
outnumbered  ours.  We  had  outrun  them  in  rigidly  in- 
sisting upon  the  practical  application  of  the  principles  of 
our  liberal  Christian  faith,  which  'they  professed  to  hold 
in  common  with  us,  to  all  the  activities  and  relations  of 
life ;  not  only  espousing,  as  we  had  done,  the  Temper- 
ance, Anti-Slavery,  and  Peace  reforms,  but  adopting  the 
' '  Standard  of  Practical  Christanity  "  against  their  emphatic 
protest,  and  finally  enlisting  in  the  cause  of  social  recon- 
struction, thus  severing  the  last  ligament  of  the  cord  that 
bound  us  together.  Our  radicalism  blasted  the  promise 
of  building  up  a  Restoratiouist  sect,  which  was  the  am- 
bition of  some  of  the  leaders,  and  this  cooled  the  ardor 
of  their  friendship  for  us  and  sorely  tried  their  patience. 
Honest  in  their  intentions  and  convictions,  they  were  not 
to  be  blamed  for  manifesting  their  repugnance  toward  us 
in  a  way  not  to  be  mistaken.  Our  worthy  elder  brother, 
Rev.  Paul  Dean  of  Boston,  in  August,  1841,  addressed 
me  a  long  letter  expressive  of  his  dissent  from,  and 
disrespect  for,  our  whole  Community  scheme.  It  was  not 
meant  in  unkindness,  but  it  was  in  striking  contrast  with 


RECORD   OF    SECOND    COMMUNITY   MEETING.  47 

the  communication  of  Dr.  Chanuing,  as  to  both  its  form 
and  its  spirit.  It  was  tinged  with  sarcasm,  and  pre- 
dicted, of  course,  with  apparent  glee,  the  ultimate  utter 
failure  of  our  vain-glorious  undertaking.  The  result  in 
our  particular  case  may  seem  to  justify  his  view.  But 
the  main  question  is  not  yet  finally  settled. 

The  second  meeting  of  the  new  Community  was  held 
in  connection  with  our  Quarterly  Conference,  April  28th 
and  29th,  1841,  at  Boylstou,  Mass.,  the  then  parochial 
home  of  Br.  George  W.  Stacy.  The  character  and  signi- 
ficance of  it  may  be  the  better  understood  by  giving  a 
full  report  of  its  proceedings  as  found  in  the  record  book 
of  the  Secretary. 

"Heard  the  document  entitled  'Standard  of  Practical  Chris- 
tianity,' of  which  our  test  '  Declaration '  is  an  epitome,  read 
by  Adin  Ballou,  with  accompanying  remarks. 

"  Heard  sundry  letters  of  friendly  sympathy  read,  addressed 
by  Wm.  Ellery  Charming,  Edmund  Quincy,  Gerritt  Smith,  and 
others,  to  Adin  Ballou,  on  the  movements  of  our  Community, 
much  to  the  satisfaction  and  encouragement  of  the  members 
present.  Adjourned  till  10  A.  M.  tomorrow. 

"  Met  Thursday,  April  29th,  according  to  adjournment. 

"  Heard  the  report  of  the  Provisional  Committee  as  follows, 
viz.:  That  the  Committee  have  procured  four  Record  books 
for  Community  use:  one  for  the  General  Proceedings  of  the 
Community;  one  for  Subscriptions  and  Transfers  of  Stock; 
one  for  the  Constitution  and  General  Registry;  and  one  for 
the  Doings  of  the  Executive  Council:  That  they  have  received 
several  subscriptions  to  the  Constitution  and  to  the  Joint-Stock: 
That  they  have  received  no  moneys  into  the  treasury,  having 
deemed  it  inexpedient  to  do  so  under  existing  circumstances: 
That  they  have  prepared  and  published  an  Exposition  of  the 
Constitution  as  instructed:  That  they  have  collected  some  in- 
formation touching  the  subjects  referred  to  them  by  the  visits 
of  some  of  their  number  to  the  Lunatic  Hospital  at  Worcester 
and  to  the  Shaker  Communities  at  Shirley  and  Harvard, 
Mass.,  and  that  such  information  is  entirely  favorable  to  the 
•objects  of  the  Community:  That  they  have  deemed  it  inexpe- 


TNIVERSITY 

•  T  r77  ^Tuvl 


48  THE   HOPEDALE   COMMUNITY. 

dient  to  purchase  books  on  Agriculture,  Manufactures,  and 
Education  at  present:  That  they  have  made  inquiries  about 
locations  for  this  Community,  and  have  partially  examined 
several  but  are  not  prepared  to  recommend  any  one  in  par- 
ticular, though  it  is  their  persuasion  that  a  suitable  one  may 
be  found  and  should  be  chosen  in  the  neighborhood  of  Men- 
don,  Mass. :  That  they  have  the  means  of  defraying  all 
expenses  incident  to  their  commission  in  their  own  and  others' 
voluntary  contributions,  without  charge  to  the  Community 
itself:  And  that  they  have  deemed  it  their  duty  to  call  •  the 
meeting  here  convened  and  report  their  doings.  All  of  which 
they  respectfully  submit  by  their  chairman. 

"Report  unanimously  accepted  and  the  Committee  discharged. 

"After  admitting  several  new  applicants  it  was  unanimously 

"Resolved,  That  the  members  of  this  Community  individually 

will  appropriate    all   the  means   they  can  reasonably  command 

to  the  purchase  of  a  farm  for  the  same  on  or   before  the  first 

day  of   March  next. 

"Voted,  That  this  Community  do  now  proceed  to  organize 
itself  by  the  choice  of  its  regular  official  servants.  Whereupon 
the  following  named  persons  were  chosen  viva  voce,  to  wit.: 

"ADiN  BALLOU,  President;  WILLIAM  W.  COOK,  Secretary  and  < 
Auditor;  LEMUEL  MUNYAN,  Intendant  of  Finance  and  Ex- 
change ;  EBENEZER  I).  DRAPER,  Intendant  of  Agriculture  and 
Animals:  HENRY  LILLIE,  Intendant  of  Manufactures  and  Mechani- 
cal Industry;  DAVID  K.  LAMSON,  Intendant  of  Health  and 
Domestic  Economy;  DANIEL  S.  WHITNEY,  Intendant  of  Educa- 
tion, Arts,  and  Sciences;  WILLIAM  H.  FISH,  Intendant  of  Reli- 
gion, Morals,  and  Missions. 

"Voted,  That  the   regular   Annual   Meeting   of   this  Commu- 
nity be  held  on  the  first  Wednesday  of  January  in  each  year. 
"Voted,  That  this  meeting  be  now  dissolved." 

The  Community  was  now  fully  organized  and  equipped 
for  service  whenever  an  opportunity  for  service,  by  the 
purchase  and  occupancy  of  a  proper  domain,  should  occur. 
Meanwhile  the  President  and  Intendants,  both  as  a  Board 
of  Trustees  and  as  Executive  Council,  were  in  frequent 
consultation  by  personal  interview  or  by  letter  in  regard 
to  the  general  affairs  of  the  body  they  represented,  as 


PROGRESS   MADE   SILENTLY.  49 

well  as  in  mgard  to  the  particular  duties  of  the  positions 
they  respectively  occupied.  They  were  united  in  the 
determination  to  commence  practical  operations  at  the 
earliest  possible  date.  The  first  thing  to  be  done  was  of 
course  to  secure  a  location,  and  a  large  section  of  coun- 
try Avas  brought  under  consideration  as  the  field  from 
which  a  selection  was  ultimately  to  be  made.  This  field 
was  narrowed  down  very  much  by  a  critical  examination, 
until  the  judgment  of  the  Council  settled  upon  a  single 
farm,  which  seemed  to  offer  more  advantages  and  fewer 
disadvantages  than  any  other  and  which  was  in  due  time 
made  the  site  of  the  Community. 

Much  thinking  and  much  planning  was  done  subse- 
quently to  the  meeting  in  April,  of  which  the  public  knew 
nothing.  It  was  regarded  as  good  policy  for  us  to  keep 
our  own  counsels  and  noise  our  doings  abroad  as  little  as 
possible,  until  something  definite  was  decided  upon  and 
we  were  prepared  to  go  forward  with  our  work  in  a  well- 
ordered,  systematic,  effective  way.  The  doings  of  our 
April  meeting  even  were  not  published  in  The  Practical 
Christian,  and  the  fact  of  our  organization  was  known 
only  t  to  those  immediately  concerned  and  a  few  of  our 
more  deeply  interested  and  intimate  friends.  At  length, 
just  before  our  next  meeting,  on  the  21st  of  August, 
Br.  David  R.  Lamson,  in  the  leading  editorial  of  our 
little  journal,  discussed  the  subject  of  ''Communities"  in 
a  general  way,  treating  of  the  advantages  to  be  derived 
from  the  mode  of  life  which  they  provided  for,  and  setting 
forth  in  a  few  particulars  its  'superiority  when  compared 
to  that  existing  under  the  established  order  of  society. 
Only  a  few  hints  were  thrown  out  in  the  article  of  what 
had  been  already  done  by  us,  or  of  what  we  had  planned 
and  were  preparing  to  do  at  an  early  day. 

The  third  meeting  of  the  Community  was  held  at  Mill- 
ville,  Mass.,  where  Bro.  William  H.  Fish  was  pastor  of 
the  Restorationist  Church,  on  Thursday,  the  26th  day 

4 


50  THE   HOPEDALE   COMMUNITY. 

of  August,  1841.  The  first  business  transacted  was  the 
consideration  of  a  Report  from  the  Executive  Council 
relating  to  the  purchase  of  a  farm  and  the  incipient 
steps  taken  toward  a  settlement  of  the  members  upon 
it.  That  Report  gave  a  detailed  statement  concerning 
two  estates  that  were  for  sale,  both  of  which  had  been 
carefully  examined  and  were  deemed  desirable.  It  said  : 

"  They  are  both  situated  on  Mill  River  in  the  westerly  part 
of  Milford  adjacent  to  the  Mendon  line,  about  a  mile  distant 
from  each  other,  and  have  respectable  mill  privileges.  The 
most  southerly  of  them  had  formerly  been  known  as  '  the 
Green  Farm,'  but  latterly  as  'the  Grady  place.'  The  other 
lies  .  .  .  higher  up  the  stream  and  was  formerly  called 
the  'Jones  Place,'  but  later  the  'Hastings  Daniels  place.'  The 
last  contains  over  258  acres  in  one  body,  inclusive  of  the 
old  roads  which  run  through  it.  Some  35  acres  are  wood- 
land, 13  of  which  are  said  to  contain  well-grown  wood;  the 
rest  is  mostly  sprout  land  of  from  three  to  six  years  growth 
and  generally  very  thrifty.  Large  quantities  of  wood  have 
been  cut  and  sold  off  this  farm  within  the  past  few  years. 
There  are  from  10  to  20  acres  of  very  young  sprout  laud  on 
another  part  of  the  farm.  It  has  from  50  to  75  acres  of  mow- 
ing and  probably  cuts  not  less  than  forty  tons  of  hay,  much 
of  it  good  English  hay.  It  has  been  rented  for  the  last  thirty 
years,  and  its  productions  cannot  be  definitely  stated,  though 
always  respectable.  It  keeps  from  sixteen  to  twenty  head  of 
•cattle,  and  has  au  abundance  of  good  pasturage.  It  has  a 
large  amount  of  orcharding  and  smaller  fruitage.  The  land  is 
naturally  divided  into  sandy,  ledgy,  and  gravelly  loam.  A  fair 
proportion  is  tolerably  smooth  and  free.  It  has  great  capa- 
bilities and  advantages  as  a  farm,  aud  would,  with  good  man- 
agement, produce  a  large  income.  The  buildings  are  old  and 
in  rather  poor  repair,  though  comfortable  for  the  present. 
There  is  a  dwelling-house  two  stories  high,  some  30  by  38  feet 
ground  measurement,  with  back  kitchen  and  other  appur- 
tenances. It  has  two  barns  of  perhaps  30  by  40  feet  in  size, 
.a  cider  house,  aud  various  outbuildings.  There  is  no  mill  on 
the  premises,  and  only  the  remains  of  au  old  dam.  But  the 
fall  of  the  river  is  24  feet,  affording  fine  opportunities  for 
applying  it  to  various  mechanical  establishments.  It  was  ascer- 


REPORT  OF   EXECUTIVE   COUNCIL.  51 

tained  that  this  property  was  in  the  market  and  could  be  bought 
at  the  comparatively  moderate  price  of  $3800,  less  than  $15  per 
acre,  to  be  paid  on  coming  into  possession  of  it,  April  1,  1842. 

"  Taking  into  consideration  the  great  capabilities  and  advan- 
tages of  this  estate,  together  with  the  price  and  the  probability 
that  it  might  be  purchased  by  some  other  party  at  an  early 
day,  the  President  deemed  it  his  duty  to  buy  it  in  his  own 
name  and  assume  the  responsibility  of  securing  it  for  the 
Community.  He  accordingly  entered  into  a  contract  for  it  with 
Mr.  Cyrus  Ballou,  who  had  recently  bought  it;  which  contract 
was  ratified  by  the  proper  writings  being  passed  between  them 
on  the  30th  day  of  June  last.  This  act  has  received  the  cor- 
dial approbation  and  sanction  of  the  Council,  who  take  pleasure 
in  declaring  unanimously  that  it  has  greatly  enhanced  the  pros- 
pects of  the  Community  and  opened  the  way  for  the  successful 
settlement  in  compact  form  and  the  industrial  organization  of 
its  now  widely  scattered  members. 

"It  would  be  very  desirable,  if  the  Community  had  the  pecun- 
iary means,  to  purchase  the  'Grady  place'  and  other  adjacent 
lands  immediately.  But  the  Council  cannot  express  any  hope 
that  the  necessary  funds  will  be  forthcoming  at  present.  They 
therefore  recommend  the  abandonment  of  any  attempt  to  make 
further  real  estate  purchases  till  the  assurance  of  more  capital 
shall  warrant  it.  They  are  confident  that  the  Community  will 
be  able  to  pay  for  the  estate  bought  by  the  President  and  begin 
improvements  thereon  in  a  few  months.  They  therefore  advise 
that  all  its  energies  and  resources  be  forthwith  concentrated  on 
this  estate ;  to  pay  for  it,  erect  buildings  and  other  works  there- 
on, and  cultivate  the  land.  They  are  not  without  hopes  that 
some  kind  of  a  beginning  may  be  made  on  the  premises  during 
the  ensuing  autumn.  If  the  property  could  be  paid  for  and 
improvements  on  it  commenced  this  fall,  it  would  be  highly 
auspicious  and  advantageous  to  the  fraternity.  It  is,  however, 
recommended  to  proceed  with  all  due  caution,  and  to  enter  upon 
no  measures  of  expenditure  not  fully  warranted  by  our  resources 
and  all  the  circumstances  of  the  case. 

"The  Council  are  happy  to  assure  the  Community  that  the 
number  of  persons  anxious  to  unite  with  them  in  this  enter- 
prise is  rapidly  increasing.  One  here  and  another  there  of  the 
pure  and  good,  the  honest  and  the  oppressed,  are  eager  to  join 
in  one  energetic,  industrious  brotherhood  as  soon  as  a  home 


52  THE   HOPEDALE   COMMUNITY. 

and  profitable  employment  can  be  furnished  them.  There  are 
several  individuals  and  families  so  situated  that  it  is  quite 
inconvenient  for  them  to  wait  till  we  can  provide  for  them. 
It  is  therefore  suggested  whether  measures  might  not  be  taken 
to  fit  up  and  furnish  the  Community  dwelling-house  at  the 
earliest  possible  day,  with  a  view  to  locate  such  members  and 
organize  the  industry  of  as  many  operatives  as  can  be  boarded 
on  the  estate.  It  is  also  suggested  whether  tenements  in  the 
surrounding  neighborhood  might  not  be  secured  for  such  fami- 
lies as  cannot  be  sheltered  there,  and  whether  a  school  cannot 
be  commenced  at  an  early  day.  If  the  members  could  thus  be 
approaching  a  centre,  and  be  employed  a  part  or  all  of  the 
time  in  the  service  of  the  Community;  if  a  school  could  be 
opened,  a  library  founded,  a  printing  office  established,  and 
other  humble  beginnings  made,  our  social  fabric  would  gradu- 
ally rise  to  its  intended  height  without  conflicting  effort  or 
perceptible  difficulty. 

"  Should  the  Community  deem  it  proper  to  entrust  the  Coun- 
cil with  discretionary  power  to  act  in  accordance  with  their 
own  judgment  relative  to  all  these  matters,  and  guarantee  the 
necessary  appropriation  of  funds,  it  is  believed  that  measures 
might  be  taken  to  accomplish  much  for  the  common  interest. 

"  The  Council  would  respectfully  suggest  that  the  time  has 
now  arrived  when  it  is  necessary  for  the  Community  to  enact 
certain  important  By-Laws.  They  have  accordingly  appended 
to  this  Report  the  draft  of  a  series  of  Resolves  and  By-Laws 
which  they  believe  ought  to  be  passed  immediately. 

"All  which,  being  reported  for  consideration,  they  now  respect- 
fully submit  to  the  disposal  of  their  constituents. 
"  By  order  of  the  Council, 

"Amx  BALLOU,  Pres't." 

The   report  was  unanimously    accepted  and   its   several 

recommendations    and    suggestions    were  taken    up    and 

freely  discussed  ;  the  discussion  resulting  in  the  adoption 
without  dissent  of  the  following 

"RESOLVES    AND    BY-LAWS. 

"RESOLVE   TO    RAISE   FUNDS. 

"Resolved,  (1)  That  this  Community  will  forthwith  proceed 
to  raise  by  subscription  the  sum  of  six  thousand  dollars,  and 
as  much  more  as  possible. 


RESOLVES   AND   BY-LAWS.  53 

"  (2)  That  every  member  of  this  Community  is  called  upon 
"by  the  exigencies  of  our  common  cause  to  make  the  utmost 
reasonable  exertions  to  advance  money  and  other  needful  equiv- 
alents for  the  augmentation  of  our  available  funds. 

"  (3)  That  the  Executive  Council  be  instructed  to  urge  for- 
ward all  judicious  measures  for  the  increase  of  subscriptions 
to  our  Joint-Stock,  and  for  the  speedy  collection  of  moneys 
thereon  into  the  Treasury. 

"  (4)  That  the  President  and  Secretary  be  instructed  to  fur- 
nish themselves  at  the  common  expense  with  the  requisite 
books,  printed  blanks,  and  stationery,  for  the  discharge  of 
their  official  duty  relative  to  subscriptions,  and  to  issue  certifi- 
•cates  of  title  as  occasion  may  offer.  % 

"  RESOLVE    ACCEPTING    THE    FARM. 

"Resolved,  (1)  That  this  Community  do  heartily  approve  of 
the  late  proceedings  of  their  President,  in  purchasing,  on  his 
•own  responsibility,  for  the  common  advantage,  the  estate  in 
Milford  formerly  called  'the  Dale,'  afterwards  'the  Jones'  farm,' 
.and  latterly  'the  Hastings  Daniels'  place.' 

"  (2)  That  the  said  estate  be  cordially  accepted  by  this  Com- 
munity for  its  future  use  and  possession. 

"  (3)  That  this  Community  do  guarantee  the  necesssary  pecun- 
iary means  to  pay  for  said  estate  and  to  fulfil  all  the  obligations 
.assumed  by  the  President  in  his  contract  with  Mr.  Cyrus  Ballou. 

"  (4)  That  the  Executive  Council  be  instructed  to  carry  this 
Resolve  into  full  effect,  by  ordering  payment  out  of  the  Treas- 
ury at  the  proper  time,  and  taking  a  Deed  of  the  estate  in 
their  capacity  of  Trustees,  according  to  Article  IT,  Sec.  2,  of 
•our  Constitution  and  agreeably  to  the  laws  of  the  land. 

"RESOLVE     ENTRUSTING     CERTAIN     DISCRETIONARY     POWERS     TO 
THE     EXECUTIVE     COUNCIL. 

"Resolved,  (1)  That  this  Community  do  authorize  and  em- 
power their  Executive  Council,  if  they  shall  judge  the  same 
to  be  warrantable  in  view  of  the  resources  at  command,  as  fol- 
lows, viz. : 

"To  make  repairs  on  our  dwelling-house  and  other  buildings. 

"  To  convert  any  of  our  frame  buildings,  by  alterations  and 
repairs,  into  temporary  tenements,  school-rooms  or  other  neces- 
sary apartments. 


54  THE   HOPEDALE   COMMUNITY. 

"To  provide  ample  furniture  for  the  dwelling-house,  with  a 
view  to  the  accommodation  of  as  many  boarders  in  commons 
as  may  healthfully  occupy  the  same  during  the  ensuing  year 
and  until  other  accommodations  can  be  afforded. 

"  To  provide  oxen,  horses,  and  other  live  stock,  together  with 
all  necessary  vehicles,  implements,  and  conveniences,  for  carry- 
ing on  the  farming  business  or  other  labor  on  the  estate. 

"  To  commence  improvements  on  the  land,  or  the  erection  of 
a  dam  across  Mill  river,  or  the  construction  of  trenches,  or 
any  other  work  whatever  for  the  common  benefit. 

"To  make  arrangements  for  opening  a  school  in  accordance 
with  our  general  design. 

"  To  provide  the  foundation  of  a  Library  for  the  Community.. 

"  To  purchase  a  small  printing  establishment  suitable  for  the 
publication  of  The  Practical  Christian  and  doing  common  job  work. 

"  To  engage  tenements  for  members  of  the  Community  within 
two  miles  of  the  farm  for  the  year  1812,  if  really  necessary. 

"Finally,  to  do  or  commence  doing  any  other  thing,  work,, 
or  enterprise,  constitutionally  proper,  as  they  may  judge  most 
conducive  to  the  prosperity  of  the  Community. 

"  (2)  That  this  Community  pledge  all  their  available  resources 
to  the  Executive  Council,  to  sustain  them  in  the  discharge  of 
their  duties  and  for  the  accomplishment  of  all  the  undertakings, 
authorized  by  this  Resolve. 

"  (3)  That  the  Executive  Council  be  instructed  to  report  to> 
the  Community  from  time  to  time  the  progress  of  their  proceed- 
ings under  this  Resolve,  as  the  general  safety  and  satisfaction 
may  in  their  opinion  require. 

"RESOLVE     TO    GIVE     A    NAME     TO     OUR     LOCATION. 

"Whereas  it  is  convenient  that  the  location  of  this  Commu- 
nity should  be  known  by  some  appropriate  name ;  and  whereas 
we  have  been  hoping  anxiously  for  a  home  suitable  to  our 
wants,  which  now  our  heavenly  Father  has  providentially 
granted  us;  and  whereas  hope  in  His  wisdom  and  goodness 
is  the  great  support  of  our  souls  in  beginning  and  carrying 
forward  our  glorious  enterprise  for  the  regeneration  of  human 
society  amid  the  contempt  of  scorners  and  the  fears  of  doubt- 
ing philanthropists,  —  Therefore 

"  Resolved,  (1)  That  our  said  location,  formerly  called  '  the 
Dale,'  afterwards  'the  Jones'  farm,'  and  latterly  'the  Hastings. 


RESOLVES   AND   BY-LAWS.  55 

Daniels'  place/  be  hereafter  called,  known,  and   distinguished 
by  the  name  of  HOPE  DALE. 

"  (2)  That  we  do  humbly  acknowledge  our  gratitude  to 
Almighty  God  for  the  success  with  which  He  has  thus  far 
sped  the  cause  of  the  Fraternal  Communion;  that  we  reconse- 
crate our  all  to  His  service  for  the  living  out  and  extending 
the  principles  of  pure  practical  Christianity  among  mankind; 
that  our  hearts  are  more  than  ever  confirmed  in  these  divine 
principles,  both  as  to  their  holy  excellence  and  their  final 
triumph;  and  that  we  do  unreservedly  commend  our  bodies 
and  souls,  our  property  and  lives,  our  welfare  and  happiness, 
to  His  guardianship,  now  and  forevermore. 

"BY-LAW    TO    PRESCRIBE     THE    MANNER     OF     ENACTING 
LAWS,     ETC. 

"  Whereas  it  is  proper  that  all  our  laws  should  be  fitly 
arranged  into  sections,  and  also  that  they  should  be  authori- 
tatively attested,  therefore  it  is  unanimously  agreed  and  deter- 
mined, 

"SECTION  1.  That  in  all  cases  where  a  law  comprehends 
several  consecutive  specifications  or  prescriptions,  it  shall  be 
divided  into  sections  numerically  designated. 

"SEC.  2.  That  all  By-Laws,  Resolves,  Rules,  and  Regula- 
tions, passed  or  ordained  by  this  Community,  shall  be  attested 
by  the  signatures  of  the  Prasident  and  Secretary  under  date 
of  time  and  place,  in  form  following,  to  wit:  —  Passed  in  reg- 
ular meeting  at  18 — . 

Secretary.  President. 

"SEC.  3.  That  all  such  Laws,  Resolves,  Rules,  and  Regu- 
lations shall  be  duly  published  by  the  President  and  Secretary 
in  the  official  periodical  of  the  Community  or  in  some  other 
printed  form,  and  all  the  members  served  with  one  copy  each 
at  the  common  expense. 

"BY-LAW    PRESCRIBING    THE    MANNER    OF    CALLING,    NOTIFYING, 
AND     CONDUCTING     BUSINESS     MEETINGS. 

SECTION  1.  "All  meetings  of  this  Community  for  the  transac- 
tion of  regular  business,  whether  annual,  stated,  or  special,  shall 
hereafter  be  called  by  written  notification  of  the  Executive 
Council,  specifying  the  time  and  place  of  meeting  with  the 


56  THE   HOPED  ALE   COMMUNITY. 

principal  subject  matters  of  business  to  be  acted  upon,  signed 
by  the  President  and  countersigned  by  the  Secretary. 

"  SEC.  2.  Every  notification  of  a  meeting  as  aforesaid  shall 
be  published  in  the  official  periodical  of  the  Community  at 
least  seven  days  previous  to  the  time  appointed  for  holding 
the  same.  Provided,  nevertheless,  that  personal  information 
given  to  each  member  by  the  President  or  Secretary,  seven 
days  previous  to  holding  any  meeting,  shall  be  deemed  sufficient. 

"  SEC.  3.  The  President  or  some  one  of  the  Intendants  shall 
preside  at  all  meetings.  He  shall  call  the  members  to  order 
at  the  proper  time,  direct  the  Secretary  to  read  the  notification, 
and  after  a  suitable  season  of  prayer,  silent  or  audible,  declare 
the  meeting  duly  opened  for  the  dispatch  of  business. 

"  SEC.  4.  Every  important  motion  shall  be  reduced  to  writ- 
ing and  seconded  by  some  member  in  the  usual  form;  where- 
upon, after  satisfactory  deliberation,  the  question  shall  ordinarily 
be  taken  by  Ayes  and  Noes.  If  there  be  doubt,  it  shall  be  taken 
by  Yeas  and  Nays',  also,  when  one-fourth  of  the  members  pres- 
ent demand  it.  And  the  choice  of  all  official  servants  shall 
uniformly  be  by  written  or  printed  ballots. 

"  SEC.  5.  Any  meeting  called  and  notified  as  aforesaid  may 
be  adjourned  from  time  to  time  at  the  pleasure  of  the  members 
present,  until  the  business  matter  of  the  notification  shall  have 
been  fully  discharged. 

"  SEC.  6.  Every  meeting  shall  be  closed  with  a  brief  season 
of  prayer,  audible  or  inaudible,  as  at  the  opening  thereof. 

"BY-LAW    REGULATING    THE     ADMISSION    OF     MEMBERS. 

"  SEC.  1.  All  applications  for  membership  in  this  Community 
shall  hereafter  be  made  in  writing  through  some  actual  member 
thereof,  whose  duty  it  shall  be  faithfully  to  question  the  appli- 
cant in  manner  hereinafter  prescribed  —  and  upon  obtaining 
satisfactory  answers,  to  propose  him  or  her  as  a  candidate  for 
admission  substantially  in  the  form  following,  to  wit: 

[  It  is  not  deemed  advisable  to  insert  the  document 
here  on  account  of  its  length,  but  refer  those  desirous  of 
learning  its  contents  to  The  Practical  Christian,  Vol.  II, 
No.  11,  in  the  Hopedale  Public  Library. — Ed.] 

"SEC.  2.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  President  and  Secre- 
tary of  this  Community  to  get  printed  and  keep  constantly  on 


RESOLVES   AND   BY-LAWS.  57 

hand  an  adequate  supply  of  the  blank  applications  specified 
in  the  preceding  section. 

"SEC.  3.  [As  subsequently  amended.]  Upon  presentation  of 
any  application  for  membership,  the  Community  shall  proceed 
to  consider  and  determine,  in  the  first  place,  whether  they  will 
entertain  the  same;  next,  whether  they  will  receive  the  appli- 
cant as  a  candidate  for  probationary  residence;  next  and 
finally,  whether  admission  to  full  membership  shall  be  granted. 
Persons  received  as  candidates  for  probationary  residence,  if 
not  already  connected  with  some  Inductive  Conference,  shall 
be  invited  to  join  one  at  Hopedale.  And  no  person  shall  be 
admitted  to  full  membership  until  he  or  she  shall  have  actually 
resided  in  the  Community  one  complete  year,  nor  then  with- 
out good  evidence  of  worthiness,  according  to  the  true  spirit 
and  intent  of  the  Constitution. 

"  SEC.  4.  All  applications  for  membership  shall  be  carefully 
preserved  on  file  in  the  Secretary's  office  for  future  reference 
and  perpetual  memorial. 

"  SEC.  5.  Every  candidate  finally  admitted  into  the  member- 
ship of  this  Community,  after  having  been  put  on  probation, 
shall,  upon  settlement  of  accounts,  be  dealt  with  in  all  respects 
precisely  as  if  actual  membership  had  commenced  on  the  first 
day  of  such  probation.  And  in  order  that  no  misunderstanding 
or  serious  difficulty  may  arise  in  cases  of  rejection,  the  Presi- 
dent, or  some  one  of  the  Intendants,  shall  enter  into  special 
written  contract  with  every  probationer,  attested  by  two  com- 
petent witnesses,  which  contract  shall  clearly  express,  in  as 
few  words  as  the  nature  of  the  case  will  admit,  the  terms  on 
which  the  probationer  is  to  live  and  labor  with  the  Commu- 
nity. And  every  such  written  contract  shall  be  preserved  on 
file  in  the  Secretary's  office. 

"  SEC.  6.  Every  present  member  of  the  Community,  on  being 
furnished  with  a  copy  of  the  blank  application  prescribed  in 
this  act,  shall  make  answer  to  the  questions  therein  contained, 
precisely  as  applicants  are  required  to  do;  and  the  same  shall 
be  placed  on  file  by  the  Secretary  in  his  office  in  a  distinct 
package  marked,  'Memorials  of  Original  Members.'' 

•'  BY-LAW     REGULATING     THE      ENUMERATION    AND     RECORD     OF 
SHARES.    ETC. 

"All  the  shares  of  Joint-Stock,  for  which  certificates  are 
issued  by  the  President  and  Secretary,  shall  be  carefully  num- 


58  THE   HOPEDALE   COMMUNITY. 

bered  in  the  order  of  their  issue.  The  number  thereof  shall 
be  specified  somewhere  in  the  margin  of  the  certificate  and 
full  record  made  accordingly.  The  certificate  itself  shall  also 
be  numbered. 

"  BY-LAW    TO    REGULATE    THE    APPRAISAL    OF    PROPERTY,    ETC. 

"  SEC.  1.  Whenever  any  subscriber  to  the  Joint-Stock  shall 
wish  to  turn  in  any  kind  of  property  instead  of  money,  and 
the  Executive  Council  shall  deem  it  expedient  to  receive  the 
same,  they  shall  appoint  three  competent  persons  to  act  as 
appraisers  thereof. 

"  SEC.  2.  Such  persons  shall  carefully  appraise  every  article, 
item,  or  parcel  of  such  property,  make  out  an  inventory  there- 
of, duly  certified  under  their  hands,  and  lodge  the  same  in 
the  Secretary's  office  for  the  use  of  the  Council;  who  shall 
thereupon,  if  all  parties  be  satisfied,  take  a  bill  of  sale  of  such 
property  and  order  the  proper  certificate  to  be  issued. 

"Passed  in  regular  meeting  at  Millville,  Mendon,  Mass.,. 
Aug.  26,  1841." 

It  will  throw  some  light  upon  the  history  of  our  move- 
ment in  the  constructive  period  of  its  existence,  and  per- 
haps interest  the  reader,  to  have  some  account  given  of 
the  success  attending  our  efforts  to  raise  the  six  thousand 
dollars  contemplated  in  the  first  of  the  foregoing  Resolves. 
When  we  left  the  place  of  meeting,  the  pledged  sub- 
scriptions received  from  those  present  amounted  to  three 
thousand  dollars,  just  one-half  of  the  desired  sum.  Six- 
teen persons  had  united  in  making  them,  no  one  of  whom 
promised  more  than  five  hundred  dollars,  and  several  only 
fifty  dollars  each.  None  of  us  were  rich,  even  in  the 
moderate,  rural  estimate  of  wealth ;  the  majority  were 
comparatively  poor.  And  those  approaching  what  might 
be  termed  under  frugal  management  a  competency  were 
so  conditioned  that  they  could  not  readily  convert  even  a 
small  portion  of  their  possessions  into  money.  As  to 
people  of  means  outside  who  might  be  reckoned  among 
our  friends,  they  had  too  little  faith  in  our  untried 
scheme  to  risk  anything  in  it.  They  wished  us  well  and 


FIRST  ANNUAL  MEETING.  59" 

hoped  we  should  succeed,  but  at  our  own  cost.  While 
the  more  unfriendly  and  worldly  inclined  used  their  influ- 
ence to  deter  those  who  in  their  hearts  were  disposed  to 
uid  us,  from  doing  so.  All  this  was  natural  and  to  a 
certain  extent  excusable  —  at  any  rate,  it  was  in  accord- 
ance with  the  common  course  of  the  world.  Wind  and 
tide  were  against  us  in  the  matter  of  raising  funds  and 
we  advanced  slowly  in  that  behalf,  bringing  us  ere  long 
to  the  conclusion,  which  was  very  repugnant  to  our  feel- 
ings, that  we  should  be  obliged  to  resort  to  borrowing  in 
order  to  realize  the  requisite  amount.  Fortunately  my 
own  personal  credit  was  good  for  any  ordinary  emergency, 
as  was  that  of  others  of  our  company ;  and,  if  worse  came 
to  worse,  we  could  give  a  partial  mortgage  of  the  farm  we 
had  purchased  as  security  for  a  loan,  should  circumstances 
compel  us  to  obtain  one.  And  this  was  what  was  finally 
done  as  a  means  of  putting  us  upon  our  feet  and  getting^ 
us  ready  for  effective  work. 

FIRST  ANNUAL  MEETING. 

This  took  place  at  my  residence  in  Meudon,  Jan  5, 
1842.  The  first  business  done  was  that  of  considering 
and  acting  upon  applications  for  membership  and  for  pro- 
bationship  in  our  body.  As  a  result  eight  persons  were 
received  into  full  fellowship  and  three  were  placed  on 
probation  for  the  time  being;  their  cases  respectively  to- 
be  finally  adjusted  at  a  future  date. 

The  report  of  the  Executive  Council,  which  was  a  full 
expose  of  the  affairs,  the  standing,  and  the  prospects  of 
the  Community  as  related  both  to  its  internal  economy 
and  to  the  public  at  large,  was  then  presented.  Only 
those  portions  which  have  a  direct  bearing  upon  the  con- 
dition of  things  within  the  body,  testifying  to  what  had 
been  accomplished  and  what  was  in  process  of  accom- 
plishment, are  hereinafter  given,  the  more  discursive  and 
hortatory  passages  being  omitted. 


60  THE   HOPEDALE   COMMUNITY. 

"  The  Executive  Council,  at  the  close  of  their  official  term, 
respectfully  submit  the  following  report: 

"  They  are  happy  to  announce  that  the  aifairs  and  prospects 
of  this  infant  Community,  notwithstanding  the  many  obstacles 
that  impede  its  progress,  are  decidedly  encouraging  and  demand 
acknowledgment  of  profound  gratitude  to  the  Author  of  all 
good.  From  the  smallest  possible  beginning  it  has  slowly  ad- 
vanced to  its  present  hopeful  stage.  It  is,  indeed,  but  *  a  little 
one '  yet  —  creeping  till  it  can  walk.  We  trust,  however,  that 
the  day  is  not  far  distant  when  it  will  stand  erect  in  the  full 
vigor  of  youth,  master  of  its  feet  a*nd  able  to  provide  for  all 
its  wants.  Friendly  inquiries  continue  to  come  in  from  differ- 
ent parts  of  the  country,  whither  the  report  of  our  enterprise 
has  been  carried;  new  applications  for  membership  are  made 
by  worthy  men  and  women  from  time  to  time;  and  there  is 
little  reason  to  doubt  that  another  year  will  witness  large 
accessions  to  our  numbers  and  resources.  When  operations 
shall  have  actually  commenced  at  Hopedale  by  those  intending 
to  locate  there  in  the  spring,  and  it  is  seen  that  even  the 
*  lazy  ministers '  are  hard  at  work  under  a  wise  plan  of  opera- 
tions, a  powerful  impression  in  our  favor  will  be  made  on  the 
public  mind.  Many  will  then  know  what  they  dare  not  now 
believe,  that  the  projectors  and  wool-dyed  friends  of  this  cause 
are  in  earnest. 

******* 

"We  now  turn  our  attention  to  the  present  and  prospective 
financial  condition  of  the  Community  —  its  internal  affairs. 
Under  the  resolve  of  August  last,  '  entrusting  certain  discre- 
tionary powers  to  the  Executive  Council,'  we  bought  out  Cyrus 
Ballou,  as  lessee  of  the  Hopedale  farm,  together  with  all  the 
hay  in  the  barns,  150  bushels  of  potatoes  in  the  cellar,  one 
yoke  of  oxen  and  ten  cows.  For  the  potatoes  we  paid  him 
$37.50  in  cash.  For  entire  possession  of  the  premises  from 
December  1st  to  April  1st  we  are  to  pay  him  $554.00  on  the 
first  of  April  next,  without  interest.  For  this  we  have  given 
him  private  security.  The  hay  of  all  kinds  was  estimated  at 
thirty  to  thirty-five  tons.  The  oxen  were  reckoned  at  $60.00; 
six  cows  at  $16.00  each,  and  four  others  at  $13.50  each.  Four 
head  more  of  young  cattle  have  been  purchased  for  $50.00 
cash.  The  whole  co?t  of  property  bought  amounts  to 
$641.50.  Besides  this  $9.00  have  been  paid  for  printing  blank 


REPORT  OF   EXECUTIVE   COUNCIL.  61 

applications  and  certificates.  Bro.  Henry  Lillie  now  resides 
upon  the  farm  and  takes  the  entire  charge  of  the  Community 
property. 

"Having  ascertained  that  it  would  be  injudicious  to  begin 
any  important  improvements  or  outlays  during  the  autumn,  it 
was  deemed  unnecessary  to  urge  the  collection  of  funds;  espec- 
ially as  most  of  our  friends  could  use  their  money  to  advan- 
tage in  their  business.  Therefore  one  subscription  of  two  shares 
—  $100.00  —  is  the  only  money  yet  received  into  the  treasury. 
Nearly  all  this  has  been  paid  out  for  the  items  above  men- 
tioned. 

"The  Practical  Christian,  which  may  be  now  considered  the 
property  of  the  Community,  will  just  about  clear  itself,  leav- 
ing, perhaps,  a  little  in  fund.  About  five  hundred  copies  are 
printed,  most  of  which  are  in  circulation.  The  paying  sub- 
scribers must  exceed  four  hundred  without  a  close  count.  The 
whole  expense  of  the  first  volume  was  $113.43,  nothing  being 
charged  for  editorial  services.  The  present  volume  will  cost 
about  $366.00.  The  whole  sum  received  by  the  Publishing 
Agent  from  the  outset  to  Jan.  1,  1842,  is  $650.90.  This  leaves- 
a  balance  on  hand  of  $54.00,  which,  with  what  is  due  and 
collectable  on  subscriptions,  will  certainly  defray  the  remain- 
ing expenses  of  the  volume.  It  is  hoped  that  new  and  suc- 
cessful efforts  will  be  made  another  year  for  the  increased 
circulation  of  this  periodical. 

"Setting  The  Practical  Christian  aside  as  balancing  its  own 
debit  and  credit,  the  Community  finances  will  stand  thus: 
Farm,  as  contracted  for,  $3800.00;  hay  and  stock,  $604.00;. 
potatoes  in  cellar,  $37.00;  printed  blanks,  $9.00;  making  a  total 
of  $4450.00.  Owing  or  due  the  first  of  next  April,  $4353.50, 
Cash  actually  received,  $100.00;  paid  out,  $96.50;  on  hand, 
$3.50.  So  that  to  meet  our  existing  liabilities,  according  to 
contract,  we  must  raise  during  the  next  quarter,  $4350.00. 
Besides  this,  it  is  estimated  that  we  shall  need,  to  furnish  our 
house,  stock  our  farm  completely,  and  provide  for  other  indis- 
pensible  wants,  not  less  than  $3000.00,  in  goods  or  cash;  mak- 
ing, in  all,  about  $7500.00.  Much  more  than  this  is  exceedingly 
necessary,  and  twice  as  much  is  desirable,  for  successful 
operations  on  even  our  small  scale.  But  with  less  than  $7500.00 
we  cannot  get  on  to  advantage  and  build  what  seems  abso- 
lutely essential  for  the  humblest  commencement.  We  have 


•62  THE   HOPEDALE   COMMUNITY. 

;strong  hopes  that  a  much  larger  sum  than  this  will  come  into 
our  treasury  during  the  next  nine  months,  and  that  the  year 
on  which  we  are  entering  will  see  a  substantial  and  respecta- 
ble beginning  of  our  Community  life. 

"Without  anticipating  the  duties  of  the  Council  about  to  be 
elected  or  recommending  measures  which  will  belong  to  them 
to  mature,  we  will  only  add,  in  conclusion,  that  we  have 
•caused  the  survey  of  a  site  and  a  building  plat  for  a  Commu- 
nity village;  a  plan  of  which  is  herewith  submitted,  in  the 
hope  that  it  will  receive  the  general  approbation.  In  executing 
this  survey,  as  on  a  former  occasion  of  leveling  the  water 
privilege,  our  friend,  Newell  Nelson,  Esq.,  of  Milford,  prac- 
tical surveyor,  kindly  made  the  Community  welcome  to  his 
.services;  for  which  he  is  entitled  to  their  cordial  thanks. 

"  And  now,  beloved  associates,  may  the  love  of  God  continue 
to  animate  us,  his  wisdom  guide  us,  and  his  grace  finally  crown 
us  with  eternal  joy. 

"  In  behalf  of  the  Council, 

ADIN  BALLOU. 

"  After  accepting  the  Keport,  it  was  Voted,  to  proceed  to  the 
choice  of  our  official  servants  for  the  year  ensuing.  This  was 
accordingly  done  with  the  following  result,  the  brethren  named 
being  declared  unanimously  elected: 

"  ADIN  BALLOU,  President;  WM.  W.  COOK,  Secretary;  DAVID 
R.  LAMSON,  Auditor;  Intendants :  LEMUEL  MUNYAN,  Finance 
and  Exchange;  EBENEZER  D.  DRAPER,  Agriculture  and  Animals; 
HENRY  LILLIE,  Manufactures  and  Mechanical  Industry;  BUTLER 
WILMARTH,  Health  and  Domestic  Economy;  DANIEL  S.  WHITNEY, 
Education,  Arts,  and  Sciences;  WM.  H.  FISH,  Religion,  Morals, 
and  Missions. 

"  The  meeting  then  dissolved." 

Settlement  at  Hopedale.  No  other  meeting  of  the  Com- 
munity was  held  until  after  a  substantial  settlement  had 
been  made  on  our  Hopedale  domain  and  practical  opera- 
tions effectively  inaugurated.  Br.  Henry  Lillie  had  already 
gone  thither  with  his  family,  having  taken  possession  of 
part  of  the  ancient  dwelling-house  the  previous  October, 
and  assumed  charge  of  the  Community  property  on  the 
premises.  He  was  our  pioneer  settler.  On  the  28th  of 


„     ERSITY 
EARLY   SETTLERS   AT  HOPEDALE.  V        63 

X^^C 

the  same  month  a  daughter  was  born  to  himself  and  wife, 
the  first  Hopedale  child,  who  was  named  Lucy  Ballou 
Lillie  in  honor  of  my  wife.  This  made  the  family,  par- 
ents and  children,  six  in  number.  On  the  20th  of  Janu- 
ary, three  weeks  after  the  annual  meeting  just  spoken  of. 
the  second  family  arrived,  that  of  Br.  Nathan  Harris, 
consisting  of  himself,  wife,  and  four  children.  Next 
appeared  Br.  Ebeuezer  D.  Draper,  his  wife,  Anna  T. 
Draper,  and  Wm.  T.  Stacy,  a  lad  they  had  taken  to 
bring  up,  about  the  middle  of  March.  A  few  days  later, 
on  the  22d,  I  removed  my  family  there,  four  of  us,  and 
also  Mrs.  Charlotte  P.  Hootou,  to  whom  I  had  sub-let 
a  portion  of  my  house  in  Mendon  some  months  before  in 
anticipation  of  locating  at  Hopedale  about  this  time,  with 
her  children,  four  more.  Br.  Daniel  S.  Whitney,  Br. 
Wm.  W.  Cook  and  wife,  and  Brother  Reuben  H.  Brown 
and  wife,  soon  followed ;  so  that  on  the  1st  of  April,  1 
1842,  the  Community  family  numbered  twenty-eight  per- 
sons. 

Meanwhile  myself  and  the  more  responsible  members 
of  the  Executive  Council  had  been  moving  under  high 
pressure  to  raise  the  funds  indispensably  requisite  to 
enable  us  to  meet  our  obligations  and  set  in  order  a 
multitude  of  preliminary  appointments.  We  were  disap- 
pointed by  the  failure  of  several  fair  promises  on  the 
score  of  Joint-Stock  capital,  and  were  notified  that  some 
hundreds  of  dollars  actually  paid  into  our  treasury  would 
have  to  be  refunded  in  order  to  meet  sundry  unexpected 
contingencies  in  the  private  affairs  of  subscribers.  Under 
these  circumstances  borrowing  on  mortgage  of  the  farm 
became  an  absolute  necessity.  Accordingly,  I,  in  behalf 
of  the  Council,  negotiated  a  loan  of  two  thousand  dollars 
($2000.00)  with  Mr.  William  Cargill  of  Cumberland, 
R.  I.  This  loan,  with  considerable  sums  obtained  from 
several  of  my  personal  friends  as  stock,  but  which  I 
guaranteed,  enabled  us  to  meet  all  just  claims  against  us 


64  THE   HOPEDALE   COMMUNITY. 

on  the  first  of  April  and  to  enter  upon  some  of  our  con- 
templated improvements.  But  oui  beginning  was  a  hard 
rub.  Our  reliable  Joint-Stock  capital  uncontingently  paid 
in  did  not  exceed  four  thousand  dollars  ($4,000.00)  ; 
what  seemed  a  formidable  debt  had  been  imposed  upon 
our  domain  by  the  above-mentioned  mortgage ;  our  time- 
shattered  dwelling-house  could  afford  but  stinted  accom- 
modations for  our  increasing  Community  family ;  our 
outbuildings  needed  substantial  repairs ;  our  water  privi- 
lege wras  yet  without  dam  or  mill-structure ;  we  had 
a  meagre  amount  of  wood  to  be  disposed  of,  or  other 
salable  productions  that  could  be  converted  into  money ; 
little  profitable  employment  for  those  needing  work  was 
immediately  available ;  consumers  among  us  greatly  out- 
numbered our  producers ; —  in  fine,  a  host  of  disadvan- 
tages and  hindrances  beset  us  and  taxed  us  sorely  at 
the  very  start.  And  I  would  forewarn  and  counsel  all 
who  may  hereafter  propose  to  inaugurate  kindred  experi- 
ments to  postpone  them  indefinitely  rather  than  attempt 
them  under  so  many  untoward  and  embarrassing  condi- 
tions. Nevertheless,  our  Community  pressed  forward, 
defying  all  hostile  and  discouraging  circumstances  and 
triumphing  for  the  time  being  over  all  hostile  elements 
and  forces,  though  brought  to  disastrous  failure  at  the 
last,  even  in  the  midst  of  comparative  prosperity,  not  so- 
much  by  reason  of  unpropitious  external  causes,  as  from 
complex,  subtle,  internal  ones: — all  of  which  will  be 
made  to  appear  in  the  sequel. 

On  Wednesday,  March  23d,  the  day  after  I  took  up 
my  abode  on  the  community  domain,  we  began  the  work 
of  appraising  the  household  furniture  and  other  personal 
property  brought  together  by  the  several  members  already 
located  there,  which  it  was  deemed  mutually  advantageous 
and  desirable  to  have  transferred  to  the  ownership  of  th& 
Community ;  crediting  the  amount  of  the  valuation  in 
each  case  to  the  proper  person  as  so  much  Joint-Stock 


FIRST   RELIGIOUS   MEETING.  65 

actually  paid  in  and  causing  certificates  for  the  same  to 
be  issued  accordingly.  On  the  evening  of  Thursday,  the 
24th,  we  held  our  first  religious  meeting  —  a  social  con- 
ference for  devotional  exercises,  counsel,  and  exhortation 
—  in  the  large  front  room  on  the  west  side  of  our  ancient 
domicile,  the  very  apartment  in  which  what  was  afterward 
the  First  Church  in  Milford  (Orthodox  Congregational) 
was  organized  one  hundred  and  one  years  and  nine  days 
before,  that  is,  April  15,  1741.  We  were  all  weary  with 
the  labors  and  cares  of  removal  to  our  new  home,  and 
with  the  difficulties  attendant  upon  adjusting  ourselves  to 
our  incommodious  and  crowded  quarters ;  but  mentally 
we  were  in  a  state  of  impassioned  ecstacy  —  in  the  honey- 
moon of  our  new  social  life  and  our  enthusiasm  was  at 
fever  heat.  We  felt  that  we  had  entered  the  promised 
laud,  and  our  humble  sanctuary,  which  was  also  our 
temporary  abode,  was  better  to  us  than  the  palaces  and 
temples  of  Egypt.  So  we  sang,  prayed,  exhorted,  and 
glorified  with  all  our  heart.  It  was  a  melting  and  joyous 
occasion ;  none  of  us  dreaming  for  a  moment  that  any 
root  of  selfishness  and  discord  would  ever  spring  up  among 
us  to  chill  the  ardor  of  our  hope  and  zeal,  or  that  daily 
familiar  acquaintance  with  each  other  would  ere  long  soil 
the  gilt  edges  of  the  volume  of  our  history  we  were  just 
beginning  to  write.  Thenceforth  the  Thursday  evening 
conference  meeting  was  an  established  community  institu- 
tion and  an  effective  and  much-prized  instrumentality  for 
promoting  the  moral  and  spiritual  life  of  our  people. 

The  Sunday  following,  March  27th,  was  my  last  as 
Pastor  of  the  First  Church  and  Congregation  in  Mendon, 
in  the  afternoon  tof  which  I  delivered  a  written  valedic- 
tory discourse  to  a  large  and  deepty  interested  audience, 
from  the  text  in  II  Corinthians,  13:11:  "Finally,  breth- 
ren, farewell.  Be  perfect,  be  of  good  comfort,  be  of  one 
mind,  live  in  peace ;  and  the  God  of  love  and  peace  shall  be 
with  you."  It  was  published  in  The  Practical  Christian, 

5 


66  THE   HOPEDALE   COMMUNITY. 

June  25th  following,  Vol.  Ill,  No.  3.  Most  of  our  Hope- 
dale  adult  residents  were  in  attendance  on  the  occasion.  1 
had  preached  in  the  pulpit  occupied  that  day  for  the  last 
time  as  a  settled  minister  for  more  than  eleven  years, 
and  had  gathered  about  me  many  kind  friends,  who  still 
clung  to  me  with  a  cordial  attachment  and  earnest  good 
wishes  as  I  left  them  to  embark  with  my  all  upon  a 
strange,  uutraversed  sea. 

The  next  Sunday,  April  3d,  witnessed  our  first  services 
of  public  worship  on  our  chosen  territory.  They  were 
held  in  the  "Old  House,"  a  goodly  number  of  interested 
friends  from  the  general  vicinity  joining  our  own  little 
company  to  make  a  respectable  audience.  I  preached  an 
earnest  discourse  in  the  morning  from  Psalms  133 :  1  : 
4 '  Behold  how  good  and  how  pleasant  it  is  for  brethren  to 
dwell  together  in  unity."  Br.  Daniel  S.  Whitney  deliv- 
ered a  sermon  in  the  afternoon.  These  exercises  were 
accompanied  by  appropriate  singing,  praying,  and  exhor- 
tation, all  being  rendered  under  high  inspiration  from 
above  and  with  marked  impression  upon  all  present.  It 
was  in  its  way  a  day  of  public  and  solemn  dedication, 
on  which  our  community  domain  with  all  pertaining  there- 
to was  consecrated  to  God  and  Humanity.  Three  days 
later  I  solemnized  the  first  Hopedale  marriage  in  the  old- 
fashioned  "  East  Room,"  which  for  many  months  served 
not  only  as  our  general  reception  voom,  but  as  our 
Council  Hall,  our  place  of  public  convocation,  and  our 
•Sabbath  sanctuary. 

And  now  the  Hopedale  Community  had  become  an 
established  fact  —  a  bona  fide  institution  —  a  practical 
attempt  to  realize  in  individual  and  social  life  a  grand 
idea  of  fraternal  unity,  co-operation,  harmony,  peace,  on 
the  broad  Christian  basis  of  "love  to  God  and  man." 
It  had  passed  beyond  the  theoretical  stage  of  its  develop- 
ment, beyond  a  mere  existence  upon  paper  and  in  the 
•speculations  of  its  projectors,  to  the  experimental  stage, 


LETTER   TO   COMMUNITY   ASSOCIATES.  67 

to  the  actualization  of  its  principles  and  promises  in  an 
undertaking  which  took  its  place  in  the  great  arena  of 
human  activity  with  other  agencies  designed  to  promote 
the  well-being  of  mankind,  challenging  the  attention  of 
the  world  and  ready  to  stand  or  to  fall  by  what  it  might 
•or  might  not  accomplish  in  the  broad  field  of  human 
endeavor  and  attainment  for  human  good  and  the  upbuild- 
ing of  the  kingdom  of  God. 

This  Chapter  I  bring  to  a  close  by  copying  the  last  of 
a  series  of  seven  ' 4  Familiar  Letters "  written  about  the 
time  of  our  locating  at  Hopedale  to  the  members  of  the 
Community,  for  the  purpose  of  awakening  in  them  a  sense 
of  the  grave  responsibilities  they  had  assumed  by  cove- 
nanting together,  and  of  preparing  them  for  their  new 
position  and  the  duties  it  imposed  upon  them.  The  one 
inserted  below  appeared  under  date  of  April  16,  1842, 
just  after  the  settlement  on  our  domain  had  been  effected. 
It  speaks  for  itself : 

"Beloved  Associates:  Since  my  last  1  have  gone  through  the 
bustle  and  fatigue  of  removal  from  Mendon  to  Hopedale  in 
Milford,  the  selected  home  of  our  expected  labors  and  enjoy- 
ments. There  I  have  met  a  goodly  number  of  dear  brethren 
and  sisters  from  the  East,  West,  North,  and  South,  and 
assisted  them  in  organizing  a  Christian  family  and  laying  the 
foundation  of  our  social  fabric.  We  have  been  carried  more 
pleasantly  and  quietly  through  the  peculiar  difficulties,  toils 
and  trials  incident  to  the  assembling  of  near  thirty  persons  in 
one  old  house,  than  we  had  any  reason  to  expect.  Our  heavenly 
Father  has  sustained  iis  by  his  grace  and  strength;  and  now 
that  we  are  getting  settled  in  our  chosen  dwelling-place,  I 
once  more  take  my  pen  in  hand  to  address  you.  A  throng  of 
emotions  crowd  upon  my  soul  and  retard  utterance  of  thought. 
The  great  era  has  actually  commenced.  We  are  no  longer  a 
Community  on  mere  paper.  Anticipation  gives  place  to  reali- 
zation and  theory  to  experimental  practice.  Poor  and  humble 
as  our  beginning  is,  do  we  not  find  it  good  to  be  here?  Are 
our  ills  greater  or  our  privileges  less  than  we  expected?  Not- 
withstanding the  unavoidable  inconveniences,  discomforts,  and 


68  THE   HOPEDALE   COMMUNITY. 

burdens  of  our  pioneer  service,  who  among  us  would  go  back 
to  the  Egypt  of  the  old  social  state?  Not  one.  We  have  been 
able  to  dissolve  our  former  connections,  to  adjust  our  property 
affairs,  to  arrange  our  business,  to  spread  a  common  table,  to- 
institute  the  true  worship,  and  to  make  an  auspicious  begin- 
ning of  the  new  moral  world,  without  any  of  that  selfishness,, 
contention,  and  dissatisfaction  which  so  many  have  always  been 
predicting.  Love,  condescension,  forbearance,  patience,  and  the 
generous  spirit  of  Christian  self-sacrifice  have  gloriously  reigned 
in  our  midst.  We  had  faith  that  it  would  be  so;  and  according 
to  our  faith  hath  it  been  unto  us.  Will  it  not  be  so  in  all 
time  to  come?  Shall  we  not  be  and  do  all  that  with  such  a 
faith  we  strive  for?  Then  let  us  not  be  weary  nor  faint  in 
our  minds.  *  Time,  patience,  and  perseverance  accomplish  all 
things.'  What  happy  meetings,  what  holy  communion  of  soul, 
what  deep  and  thrilling  religious  feelings,  have  we  thus  far 
enjoyed!  How  applicable  to  our  case  have  been  the  words  of 
the  Psalmist:  'Behold  how  good  and  how  pleasant  it  is  for 
brethren  to  dwell  together  in  unity! '  We  may  now  reasonably 
look  for  a  diminution  of  our  temporary  disadvantages  and  the 
increase  of  those  conveniences  which  result  from  rational 
industry  and  wholesome  domestic  economy. 

"But  let  us  not  feel  that  we  are  living  and  laboring  wholly 
for  ourselves.  We  are  not  of  the  world,  even  as  Christ  was  and 
is  not  of  the  world.  We  have  come  out  and  separated  ourselves 
from  it.  But  we  have  done  all  this  for  the  reformation  and 
salvation  of  the  world.  Christ  in  us  seeks  as  ever  the  redemp- 
tion of  poor  self-destroyed  man.  May  He  live  Himself  out 
afresh  in  our  thoughts,  feelings,  words,  and  actions.  Let  this 
great  idea  never  depart  from  our  minds,  that  the  good  we  are 
toiling  and  suffering  for  is  the  good  of  all  humanity.  Thus 
we  shall  not  only  impart  happiness  of  the  purest  kind  to  our 
fellow-creatures,  but  enjoy  it  in  full  measure,  'pressed  down 
and  running  over,'  in  our  own  bosoms.  Let  the  day  never 
arrive  when  we  become  selfishly  exclusive  and  affluently  sordid. 
That  day  would  be  the  funeral  period  of  our  holiest  and 
sublimest  purposes.  '  The  kingdom  of  God  is  at  hand ' ;  not. 
that  kingdom  which  some  are  looking  for  of  personal  display 
and  physical  observation,  but  the  reign  of  God  in  men's  souls 
and  over  all  their  interests;  the  spiritual  dominion  of  the 
Word  once  made  flesh;  the  kingdom  of  'righteousness,  peace,. 


LETTER   TO   COMMUNITY   ASSOCIATES.  69 

and  joy  in  the  Holy  Ghost.'  It  has  already  come  within  us 
and  it  is  our  mission  to  proclaim  its  laws  by  precept  and 
example  united  to  all  around  us.  We  are  doing  so  with  great 
power  and  effect.  What  a  change  is  there  in  the  views,  feelings, 
and  convictions  of  those  who  behold  our  onward  movement  since 
we  first  announced  our  general  design!  What  inquiry  has  been 
awakened!  What  a  press  of  souls  towards  the  door  through 
which  we  have  passed!  What  a  Community  spirit  is  breaking 
out  in  different  parts  of  our  land!  The  bright  morning  star  is 
already  beginning  to  lose  its  lustre  in  the  growing  brightness  of 
the  dawning  day.  There  are  wonders  before  us  —  glorious  events 
—  most  salutary  and  sweeping  revolutions  in  the  moral  world. 
O,  that  we  may  be  faithful  to  our  light,  true  to  our  principles, 
and  worthy  of  our  high  calling  in  Christ  Jesus!  You  that  are 
at  Hopedale,  you  that  are  anxiously  waiting  for  the  first  oppor- 
tunity to  come,  and  all  who  are  intending  to  dwell  together  in 
Fraternal  Community,  let  your  lamps  be  kept  trimmed  and  burn- 
ing and  the  loins  of  your  minds  be  girded  about  with  truth  and 
righteousness.  Watch  unto  prayer  and  continue  instant  in  good 
works.  Publish  the  glad  tidings  of  the  true  gospel  and  perse- 
vere with  all  patience  unto  the  end  in  illustrating  the  divine 
life.  Thousands  of  eyes  are  upon  you,  to  scrutinize  your  con- 
duct and  behold  your  progress.  Walk  as  children  of  the  light 
and  that  Redeemer,  who  has  led  you  by  a  way  you  know  not, 
will  dissipate  all  darkness,  make  crooked  things  straight,  and 
spread  out  before  you  in  due  time  the  new  heaven  and  new 
earth  to  dwell  in  forevermore. 

"  Affectionately  yours, 

"A.   B." 


CHAPTER    III. 

1842. 

A    BEGINNING    MADE  —  EMBARRASSMENTS  —  DISCORDANT 

NOTES  —  PASSING   A   CRISIS  —  HUMBLED 

BUT   UNDISMAYED. 

TN  the  development  of  the  family  the  incipient  stages, 
-^  collectively  denominated  courtship,  culminate  in  mar- 
riage, which  is  followed  by  the  so-called  honeymoon, 
whose  poetry  ere  long  is  transformed  into  sober  prose. 
Similarly  was  it  in  our  Community  experience.  Having 
entered  upon  the  common-place  realities  of  closely  asso- 
ciated life  and  become  familiar  with  the  details  and 
drudgery  of  daily  activities,  as  well  as  with  each  other's 
personal  peculiarities,  many  of  our  dreams  vanished 
utterly  while  others  lost  not  a  few  of  their  illusory 
charms.  It  was  inevitable  not  only  that  our  theories  and 
hopes  should  be  tested,  but  our  own  fitness  or  capability 
for  realizing  them.  And  there  could  be  no  severer  test 
than  the  intimate  and  complex  relationships  of  social, 
domestic,  industrial,  and  financial  economy  into  which  we 
had  entered.  A  hundred  people  can  enjoy  the  society  of 
each  other  occasionally  under  favorable  conditions,  without 
suspicion  of  inharmony  or  serious  defects  of  character, 
where  ten  can  live  together  in  familiar  intercourse  a  year 
undisturbed  by  feelings  of  mutual  repulsion  or  perhaps 
disgust.  This  is  true  not  only  of  common  worldiugs 
but  of  the  so-called  refined  classes,  and  even  of  professing 
Christians.  Whoever  can  summer  and  winter  each  other 
without  friction  or  alienation  of  feeling  may  be  deemed 


STARTING   OUT  IN   COMMUNITY   LIFE.  71 

reasonably  fit  for  a  practical  Christian  Community,  such 
as  we  were  attempting  to  inaugurate.  And  whoever 
cannot  stand  this  test  ought  to  be  ashamed  to  profess 
either  Christianity  or  true  refinement  of  character.  It 
has  been  said  that  ordinary  civilized  society  with  its 
partition  walls,  its  class  distinctions,  its  conventional 
barricades,  and  compulsory  insularities,  allows  mankind 
quite  as  much  unit}7  and  closeness  of  association  as 
they  will  safely  bear;  and  therefore  that  it  is  presump- 
tuous to  propose  bringing  them  into  more  fraternal  and 
harmonious  affiliation  and  co-operation.  And  the  incred- 
ulous cynic  might  upbraid  me  and  my  coadjutors  for  not 
knowing  this  before  venturing  upon  our  untoward  and  as 
it  proved  calamitous  experiment.  We  did  know  it  so  far 
as  respected  the  generality  of  our  race  who  make  no 
pretence  to  the  ideals,  the  principles,  the  aspirations,  or 
the  moral  and  religious  obligations  of  our  distinctive  form 
of  Christian  faith.  But  we  did  not  know  theu,  nor  do  I 
know  now  or  believe,  that  sincere  and  high-minded  per- 
sons, intelligently  acknowledging  such  ideals,  principles, 
aspirations,  and  obligations,  ought  not  to  associate  and 
live  together  on  a  more  elevated,  Christlike  plane  than 
that  of  the  existing  order  of  civil  society.  If  they  ought 
not  to  do  this  —  to  transcend  the  prevailing  civilization 
of  the  world,  then  I  am  confident,  beyond  all  perad ven- 
ture, that  the  religion  of  the  New  Testament  is  theo- 
retically and  practically  false  and  worthy  only  of  being 
ignored  and  reprobated. 

I  have  stated  that  the  number  of  those  resident  upon 
the  Community  domain  April  1,  1842,  was  twenty-eight. 
These  were  all  congregated  and  living  together  as  a  com- 
bined household  in  the  old  dwelling  already  mentioned,  a 
portion  of  which  had  been  standing  about  one  hundred 
and  forty  years  and  the  remainder  more  than  a  century. 
Several  of  them  were  entire  strangers  to  each  other  and 
scarcely  any  of  the  families  had  been  more  intimately 


72  THE   HOPEDALE   COMMUNITY. 

acquainted  than  as  occasional  visitors  of  one  another, 
occupants  of  adjacent  buildings,  or  worshipers  together  at 
the  same  house  of  public  religious  service.  A  few  of  us 
had  enjoyed  personal,  domestic,  social,  and  educational 
advantages  open  to  the  respectable  middling  classes  of 
New  England.  But  the  larger  number  had  lived  and 
moved  on  a  humbler,  but  in  no  wise  dishonorable,  level. 
There  was,  naturally,  a  corresponding  diversity  of  man- 
ners, habits,  and  tastes,  in  addition  to  the  varied  per- 
sonal peculiarities  of  each  individual.  These  manifold 
dissimilarities,  and  sometimes  incongruities,  though  all 
our  adult  population  had  confessed  the  same  fundamental 
truths,  objects,  and  duties,  had  to  be  harmonized  and 
reconciled,  so  that  all  would  work  together  with  as  little 
attrition  or  confusion  as  possible  for  the  common  good 
and  the  accomplishment  of  the  great  end  we  all  nominally 
had  in  view.  One  third  of  our  residents  were  children 
and  youth  from  the  very  beginning  onward,  and  many 
of  the  characteristics  of  these  needed  important  modifica- 
tions or  transformations.  Yet  we  were  all  domiciled  under 
one  roof,  lived  as  one  family,  stocked  a  common  larder, 
spread  and  sat  at  a  common  table,  organized  common 
industrial  activities,  placed  our  children  under  common 
regulations  and  restraints,  and  constituted  to  all  intents 
and  purposes  a  Community  in  fact  as  well  as  in  name. 

In  addition  to  the  several  appointments  to  places  of 
responsibility  by  popular  vote,  as  already  recorded,  the 
Executive  Council  had  commissioned  Lucy  H.  Ballou 
Director  of  house-keeping  for  the  current  year,  while  I, 
by  common  consent,  became  the  governing  father  of  the 
younger  members  of  the  household.  Some  of  these  were 
rude  and  uncouth  in  their  manners,  and  unused  to  self- 
regulation  and  self-discipline.  Finding  themselves  massed 
suddenly  together  without  the  immediate  oversight  of  their 
parents  or  guardians,  they  very  naturally  were  disposed 
to  have  good  times  together,  roaming  the  whole  house 


LIMITATIONS   AND   EMBARRASSMENTS.  73 

•over  and  making  it  ring  with  their  clatter  of  feet  and 
loud  voices  of  merriment.  Happily  they  all  seemed  to 
reverence  and  love  me  and  to  have  respect  for  my 
wishes  and  requirements.  I  organized  them  into  what 
was  called  the  silent  band;  so  that  at  a  given  signal  from 
me  their  noise  was  instantly  hushed,  and  their  necessary 
movements  up  and  down  stairs  or  about  the  house  were 
made  with  marked  quietude  and  an  almost  inaudible  tread. 
When  I  was  at  home  I  could  always  and  with  little 
effort  secure  their  willing  and  orderly  obedience. 

But  how  limited  were  our  accommodations  and  conven- 
iences !  They  were  none  too  ample  for  the  needs  of  two 
middling-sized  families  of  working  people.  We  had  only 
a  single,  old-fashioned,  two-story  house,  with  a  time- 
beaten  ell  in  the  rear  containing  simply  a  kitchen,  which 
possessed  the  most  inadequate  facilities  for  cooking,  laun- 
dry work,  and  other  ordinary  domestic  uses !  Next  to 
the  kitchen,  in  the  main  building,  was  a  long  narrow 
apartment  for  our  common  table,  and  a  pantry  adjacent. 
The  large  west  room  in  front  we  made  a  general  sitting- 
room,  while  the  corresponding  east  one  served  as  a  parlor, 
a  council  hall,  and  place  of  worship,  as  stated,  and  a 
guest  chamber  for  visitors,  having  in  it  a  folding  bed  of 
a  rude  sort  and  other  conveniences.  These,  with  a  small 
entry  and  a  few  cupboards,  were  all  that  had  place  on 
the  lower  floor.  The  second  story  was  partitioned  off 
into  as  many  lodging  rooms  as  was  practicable,  and  like- 
wise the  attic.  The  President,  his  wife,  and  little  boy, 
occupied  a  small  bed-chamber  at  the  northeast  corner  of 
the  house,  which  was  crowded  with  their  indispensable 
personal  effects  and  which  served  as  a  study  and  office 
wherein  to  prepare  editorials,  records,  documents,  and 
memoranda  of  various  kinds  requisite  to  the  satisfactory 
prosecution  of  his  multiform  labors.  This,  too,  was  his 
only  indoor  retreat  and  place  of  refuge  from  the  general 
din. 


74  THE   HOPED  ALE   COMMUNITY. 

Such  were  some  of  the  difficulties  and  inconveniences 
under  which  our  Community  family  started  out  in  the 
house-keeping  business.  The  case  would  have  been  suffi- 
ciently onerous  and  trying  with  our  original  smallness  of 
numbers.  But  we  could  not  be  held  to  those  limits. 
Every  week  almost  from  the  outset  fresh  accessions 
pressed  into  our  over-crowded  camp,  while  plenty  of 
transient  callers  and  sojourners  appeared  among  us  all 
unawares,  to  occupy  our  room,  take  up  our  time,  and 
tax  our  hospitality.  Meanwhile,  my  wife,  in  her  own 
quiet,  unpretentious  way,  led  off  in  the  management  of 
domestic  affairs,  with  good  Anna  T.  Draper  for  her 
faithful  right-hand  coadjutor,  bringing  order  out  of 
chaos,  and  putting  the  entire  household  machinery  in 
running  condition  despite  seeming  impossibilities.  As  a 
matter  of  fact,  our  in-door  family  affairs  were  managed 
most  efficiently  and  satisfactorily,  and  without  the  least 
friction  or  complaint.  It  had  been  confidently  predicted 
by  carping  critics  that  however  it  might  be  with  the  men 
among  us,  our  women  would  soon  fall  out  with  each 
other  and  come  to  open  strife.  Never  were  ill-omened 
prophecies  proved  more  unfounded  and  misapplied,  for 
through  all  the  discouragements,  privations,  and  misfor- 
tunes incident  to  those  early  days,  no  unkind  word  or 
grumbling  wail  was  heard  among  our  female  associates ; 
to  their  perpetual  praise  let  this  testimony  be  remembered. 
They  bore  their  burdens,  vexations,  and  trials  with  most 
exemplary  patience  and  fortitude ;  though  probably  not 
without  a  frequently  keen  sense  of  unpleasantness  if  not 
of  disgust.  This  must  have  been  the  case  with  the 
more  sensitive  and  refined  of  them,  who  could  'but  realize 
the  striking  and  in  some  respects  painful  contrast  between 
the  pleasant,  comfortable  homes  they  had  left  behind  and 
the  multiform  inconveniences  and  disagreeabilities  of  this 
to  which  they  had  come.  But  like  most  of  their  com- 
panions they  calmly  endured,  as  unavoidable,  the  tempo- 


PREVAILING   SPIRIT  OF   BROTHERHOOD.  75- 

rary  discomforts  of  this  pioneer  life  for  the  sake  of  the 
cause  of  social  reform  and  in  hope  of  better  times  pro- 
spectively  in  sight.  And  when  disquietudes  and  bickerings 
at  length  arose,  it  was  the  men  and  not  the  women  who 
first  proved  weak,  and  wavered  from  the  sacred  standard 
of  Christian  amity  and  brotherhood.  Nevertheless,  during 
the  early  stages  of  our  Community  life,  neither  male  nor 
female  uttered  a  murmur  of  discontent  or  regret.  All 
were  genial,  harmonious,  and  united;  all  were  heroic  and 
steadfastly  persistent  in  their  noble  struggle  for  a  better 
type  of  individual  and  social  life.  * 

To  appreciate  this  fidelity  to  high  ideals,  their  chivalric 
spirit,  it  must  be  remembered  that  several  of  us  had  left 
behind  us  prominent  salaried  positions,  many  professional 
advantages,  alluring  prospects  of  honorable  success  on  the 
common  plane  of  human  affairs,  and  much  of  personal 
ease  and  enjoyment  in  our  various  relationships,  dropping 
down  voluntarily  and  cheerfully  to  a  common  fraternal 
level  with  those  who  had  far  less  to  share  or  hope  for 
in  the  condition  from  which  they  had  migrated.  We  were 
all  here  in  one  household,  professionals,  mechanics,  farm- 
ers, ordinary  laborers,  male  and  female,  agreeing  alike  to 
serve  the  Community  if  able,  eight  hours  per  day  for 
fifty  cents,  and  to  pay  for  our  board,  lodging,  etc.,  one 
dollar  per  week.  Also  to  pay  cost  prices  for  clothing, 
livery,  and  other  necessaries  not  included  in  the  above. 
If  ministers  or  others  received  any  moneys  -from  the 
outside  world  for  special  services  rendered,  all  above 
incidental  expenses  went  into  the  general  treasury.. 
Thus  worldly  and  conventional  superiority  was  abolished 
and  the  strong  bore  the  infirmities  of  the  weak.  In 
these  particulars  the  feeble  and  less  productive  classes 
among  us  were  the  only  gainers  by  our  peculiar  arrange- 
ments, whilst  the  weight  of  responsibility  and  care  must 
necessarily  rest  with  intensified  pressure  upon  those  who 
elsewhere  might  have  shared  and  profited  by  unusual 


76  THE  HOPEDALE   COMMUNITY. 

worldly  opportunities,  preferments,  and  benefits.  Yet 
many  weeks  passed  by  without  faltering  or  murmur  of 
dissatisfaction.  Enthusiastic  hope,  ardor,  and  firmness 
of  purpose  reigned  universal  and  supreme. 

Perhaps  I  can  best  realize  to  the  reader  how  we  started 
out  in  our  experiment  at  Hopedale  by  making  a  few- 
extracts  from  the  Community  Journal  and  Record  Book 
as  they  appear  during  the  first  mouth  of  our  residence 
there.  Having  already  spoken  of  the  removal  of  myself 
and  family  to  the  place  on  the  22d  of  March,  1842, 
when  our  unitory  life  actually  began,  and  of  the 
appraisal  of  goods  on  the  23d,  I  proceed  with  my  quota- 
tions from  and  after  that  date,  as  follo^vs  : 

"  The  24th  was  the  day  appointed  by  the  Council  to  pay  for 
the  farm  and  take  a  Deed.  But  the  money  not  coming  in  as 
expected,  and  there  being  an  old  mortgage  to  discharge  by 
Claflin  and  Daniels  (our  grantors),  the  matter  was  postponed 
till  Saturday  the  26th.  The  President,  however,  paid  John 
Claflin,  Esq.,  $1900.00  and  took  receipt  accordingly.  A  Mr. 
Howard  came  down  from  Leverett  bringing  $200.00  from  Bros. 
Butler  Wilmarth  and  Phineas  Field.  He  was  taken  ill  and  had 
to  be  provided  for  to  the  best  of  our  ability.  On  the  25th  the 
President  went  to  Woonsocket,  R.  I.,  via  Mendon  and  Chestnut 
Hill,  bought  various  articles,  called  on  his  friend,  Carlisle  W. 
C apron,  to  see  about  promised  money,  got  meal  of  Kelley,  etc. 
Saturday,  26th,  he  attended  funeral  of  Noah  Cole's  wife  in  the 
forenoon,  p.  M.,  he  completed  payment  for  the  farm  to  John 
Claflin,  Esq.,  $3500.00  (excepting  the  $300.00  due  Cyrus  Ballou), 
received  the  Deed  and  went  to  Worcester  to  enter  it  for  record. 
Agreeably  to  vote  of  Council  the  title  was  taken  in  the  sole 
name  of  the  President.  As  agreed  with  William  Cargill  of 
Cumberland,  R.  I.,  a  mortgage  was  executed  to  secure  the 
payment  of  $2000.00  borrowed  of  him  for  two  years.  This 
instrument  was  also  put  on  record  for  the  satisfaction  of  Car- 
gill,  who  is  to  furnish  the  money  next  week.  The  President 
purchased  sundry  account  books  for  the  Community  in  Worces- 
ter before  returning  home,  which  he  reached  about  midnight. 

"  Sunday,  27th.  He  preached  his  valedictory  discourse  in 
Mendon  (as  before  stated).  Monday,  28th.  Mr.  Howard,  hav- 


EXTRACTS  FROM  COMMUNITY  JOURNAL.  77 

ing  recovered  from  his  illness,  left  for  his  home.  Tuesdayr 
29th.  A.  B.  went  to  Upton  and  married  John  C.  Sweet  and 
Sarah  Redfield.  Afterwards  gave  a  lecture  in  the  school-house 
near  by  on  'The  Spirits  in  prison.'  30th.  Mr.  Cargill,  a 
brother  of  William,  called  on  his  way  to  Worcester  to  examine 
Registry  of  Deeds  and  see  that  everything  was  safe.  Next 
day  he  returned,  delivered  to  the  President  the  $2000.00,  and 
went  his  way.  Friday,  April  1st,  was  spent  by  the  President 
in  paying  out  money  on  contracts  falling  due:  to  Cyrus  Ballon,. 
$854.00  —  $300.00  to  complete  payment  on  farm,  which  had 
been  bought  through  him,  and  $554.00  for  hay,  cattle,  etc.; 
to  Hiram  Hunt  and  Co.  for  goods  from  store;  to  Millens  Taft 
for  yoke  of  oxen,  etc.;  in  all  over  $1000.00.  We  have  some 
confusion  and  many  inconveniences,  all  of  which  we  endure 
like  good  soldiers  for  the  sake  of  the  great  good  we  propose 
and  hope  to  accomplish.  God  blesses  and  sustains  us,  for  which 
all  praise  and  thanksgiving  be  rendered  to  his  holy  name. 

"Sunday,  April  3d.  Our  first  public  meeting  in  the  old 
house  (as  described).  Wednesday,  6th.  A.  B.  married  Amasa 
Parkhurst  and  Hannah  P.  Brown  of  Milford  in  the  common 
parlor.  Thursday,  7th.  Annual  Fast;  Frederick  Douglass,  the 
fugitive  slave,  with  us.  O,  what  a  fast!  A  Fast  indeed!  Such 
an  one  as  we  never  observed  before.  All  hearts  were  moved 
and  melted.  The  Father  and  the  Son  were  with  us  by  the 
communion  of  their  one  Holy  Spirit,  p.  M.,  A.  B.  went  to 
Mendon  and  married  Micajah  C.  Gaskill  and  Hannah  Taft  at 
the  residence  of  her  father,  Leonard  Taft.  Sunday,  10th.  A. 
Ballou  preached  at  Bellingham  to  a  large  audience,  and  lec- 
tured at  5  p.  M.  in  E.  Mendon  school-house.  Meeting  at  homer 
small  but  good.  Several  brethren  spoke  to  edification. 

"From  10th  to  17th  much  business  done  and  good  progress 
made  towards  order  and  settlement  of  affairs.  Preparations 
were  completed  for  erecting  a  building  for  school-room,  print- 
ing office,  etc.,  at  the  south-west  extremity  of  Water  St.  The 
frame  is  that  of  an  old  wood-shed  to  be  vamped  up.  E.  C* 
Perham  and  Samuel  Taft  helped  our  workmen:  Perham  as 
carpenter  for  several  days,  Taft  as  stonelayer  for  one  day. 
Wednesday  the  13th.  A.  B.  married  a  couple  a£  H.  Nelson's, 
Milford,  viz.:  Daniel  S.  Chapin  and  Angeline  P.  Nelson.  Sun- 
day, 17th.  Clother  Gifford,  a  phrenologist,  visits  us.  Good 
meeting,  A.  M.,  A.  Ballou  and  D.  S.  Whitney  principal  speak- 


78  THE   HOPEDALE   COMMUNITY. 

ers.  P.  M.,  A.  Ballou  went  to  Mendon  to  attend  funeral  of 
widow  Nabby  Aldrich.  Brief  sermon  in  meeting-house.  Br. 
D.  R.  Lamsom  preached  at  Mendon  A.  M.,  and  was  at  Hope- 
dale  P.  M.  John  Hawkins,  the  celebrated  Washingtonian  chief, 
lectured  at  4  p.  M.  in  Mendon,  most  of  our  Hopedalians  being 
there.  He  came  fully  up  to  the  highest  expectations;  had  a 
great  audience  and  carried  his  hearers  away  like  a  flood,  speak- 
ing two  hours.  Br.  Whitney  went  to  Millville  in  the  evening, 
partly  to  attend  a  meeting  with  the  friends  there  but  more 
especially  to  marry  a  couple  on  the  morrow. 

"Monday,  April  18th.  A  severe  northeast  storm.  Not  much 
outside  business  done  to-day.  Bro.  Gifford  still  here,  and 
Phrenology  and  Animal  Magnetism  occupied  most  of  our  time 
and  attention.  He  examined  nearly  all  our  heads  and  tried  to 
put  Barbara  Colburn  into  a  magnetic  sleep  but  failed.  Dis- 
cussion in  the  evening  about  the  children.  Settled  it  as  a  rule 
that  they  should  not  take  lights  by  themselves  to  their  sleep- 
ing apartments  at  night,  but  be  accompanied  by  some  one  of 
proper  age  to  attend  to  both  them  and  their  lights.  19th.  Still 
stormy.  C.  Gifford  goes  to  Milford  town  to  prosecute  his 
phrenological  business.  Our  good  friend,  David  Stearns  God- 
frey, called  and  informed  us  of  the  triumphant  success  of 
Frederick  Douglass  last  evening  at  his  lecture  in  Milford 
Academy  Hall.  Great  excitement;  the  'baser  sort'  active; 
people  turned  out  numerously;  but  they  were  wonderfully 
overcome  by  his  ingenuity  and  eloquence.  The  tide  (which 
was  turbulent  against  him  at  first)  turned  strongly  in  his  favor. 
He  lectured  again  this  evening  at  Milford  town-hall.  Eleven 
from  Hopedale  to  hear  him.  A  glorious  lecture  to  a  full 
house.  Package  made  up  by  A.  B.  for  Whitmarsh,  Boston 
(our  printer),  with  copy  for  Practical  Christian  and  $15.00 
enclosed.  Wednesday  the  20th.  Stormy.  Discussed  at  table 
the  matter  of  division  of  labor  and  settled  it  more  definitely 
so  far  as  related  to  out-door  work.  Colburn  takes  care  of  the 
cattle,  Cook  of  the  garden,  Draper  of  the  farming  proper, 
Whitney  of  the  orcharding,  while  the  carpenters  confine  them- 
selves to  their  distinctive  calling.  A.  B.  lectured  in  the  even- 
ing at  the  Orthodox  Meetinghouse,  Milford,  on  Temperance, 
several  of  our  people  being  present. 

"Thursday,  April  21.  Bright  and  lovely.  Business  brisk. 
p.  M.,  raised  the  frame  of  the  first  new  building  at  Hopedale. 


EXTRACTS  FROM  JOURNAL  —  CONTINUED.      79 

Dr.  Wm.  P.  Metcalf,  who  had  dined  with  us,  and  friend  Hiram 
A.  Morse  of  Holliston  were  present.  A.  B.  subsequently  went 
into  town  with  the  farm  wagon  and  after  doing  business  at 
Hunt  &  Co.'s  store  bought  a  logging  axle  and  pole  of  Perley 
Hunt,  Esq.,  at  a  cost  of  three  dollars,  to  be  hereafter  paid. 
All  hands  busy  at  their  proper  work  except  the  little  time 
spent  in  the  aforesaid  raising.  Lamson  has  gone  to  Provi- 
dence, R.  I.,  to  procure  for  himself  a  .new  wooden  leg  (he 
having  lost  one  of  his  lower  limbs).  In  the  evening  our 
neighbors,  Daniel  Scammell  and  wife,  called  upon  us  and  as 
we  had  our  weekly  Conference  meeting  they  remained  through 
its  exercises. 

"  Friday,  22d.     Br.  Draper  was   obliged  to  go  to  Blackstone 
on  business   in   the   morning.     In  the  afternoon  he  and  A.  B. 
perambulated  the  farm,  inspected  the  fences  and  pastures,  and 
let  off   the  cranberry  swamp  pond.     Br.   Lamson   returns  with 
his  wife  and  children.     Saturday,  23d.     Pleasant.     A.  Ballou's 
39th   birthday.     No    ceremony;    too    much    business    in    hand. 
Got    home    six    bushels    of   potatoes   from   Eli   Chapin's;   paid 
$2.00.     Charles  Gladding,  now  with  us,  sends  for  his  family  to 
come    here    for    a   visit.     An   old   acquaintance,    Clark  Jillson, 
calls  with  his  son  Orison,  who  look  around  and  make  inquiries. 
Br.  Whitney  off  to  Mendon  in  quest  of  materials  for  grafting 
purposes.     Thos.  J.  Dunbar  from  Portsmouth,  N.  H.,  arrived  to 
spend  the  Sabbath  with  us  as  an  interested  inquirer.     Henry 
Chapin  called  to  show  us  where  we  may  cut  birches  on  his  land 
for  pea-brush.     President  out  with  him  noting  the  clumps  and 
agreeing  upon  an  estimated  cord,  for  which  we  are  to  pay  $2.00. 
"Sunday,  24th.     Pleasant.     A.  B.  at  home.     Spoke  at  length 
A.  M.  and  P.  M.     Brs.    Gladding,   Cook,    and    Brown    followed. 
Preached  in  So.  Milford  school-house  at  5  o'clock;  Brs.  Brown 
and   Draper   exhorted.     Br.  Whitney  was  at  Millville  with  Br. 
Fish;   Br.  Lamson  at   Mendon.     Monday,  25th.     Rainy.     T.  J. 
Dunbar   left    by   stage    for    Boston.     Sent    by  him   $150.00    to 
Jos.   A.   Whitmarsh   in   advance   for    printing-press,    materials, 
etc.,   before    bargained    for.     Also   a  letter,  and  copy  for  next 
No.  of  P.  C.     Br.  John  Wheeler,  one  of  our  non-resident  mem- 
bers, called  and  paid  into  our  Joint  Stock  $50.00.     In  the  eve- 
ning A.  B.  went  to  Hopkinton,  nine  miles,  and  married  Adams 
Chapin  to  Polly  R.  Stone.     Called   at   friend  Perry  Daniels  on 
his  way  home,  which  he  reached  a  little  before  midnight." 


80  THE   HOPEDALE   COMMUNITY. 

I  will  go  no  further  with  these  quotations.  What  I 
have  presented  will  furnish  glimpses  at  the  various  activi- 
ties of  the  Community  during  the  first  few  weeks  of  its 
existence  and  thereby  afford  a  clearer  and  more  complete 
insight  into  its  practical  experiences  than  any  number  of 
general  statements  could  possibly  do.  I  now  proceed  to 
subsequent  occurrences. 

The  next  regular  meeting  of  the  Community  was  noti- 
fied to  be  held  in  Gardner,  May  5,  and  6,  during  the 
sessions  of  the  Quarterly  Conference  at  the  same  dates ; 
but  failing  of  a  quorum  it  adjourned  to  the  12th  at  Hope- 
dale.  It  took  place  there  accordingly  and  was  continued 
by  subsequent  adjournments  to  numerous  dates  through 
the  summer,  as  the  exigencies  of  the  case  seemed  to 
require.  Only  the  more  important  items  of  business, 
those  relating  chiefly  to  the  management  of  Community 
affairs  and  the  general  economy  of  the  enterprise,  will 
be  noted  in  these  pages,  a  multitude  of  minor  incidental 
details  being  for  obvious  reasons  omitted.  And  so  far 
as  the  admission  of  new  members  and  probationers  is 
concerned,  it  is  deemed  sufficient  to  state  once  for  all 
that  this  was  continually  going  on  at  longer  or  shorter 
intervals  through  our  entire  history,  without  mentioning 
each  individual  instance  as  it  transpired,  with  the  name 
and  date  belonging  thereto.  At  some  one  or  another  of 
the  several  adjourned  sessions  of  the  meeting  of  May  5th,, 
the  following  Votes  and  Resolves  were  passed,  to  wit  f 

"Voted,  That  the  communion  of  the  Christian  Supper  be  ob- 
served without  the  use  of  wine  for  the  edification  of  all  who  deem 
the  same  a  religious  privilege,  on  the  4th  Sunday  of  every  month. 

"Voted,  That  mothers,  resident  members  of  this  Community, 
having  nursing  infants  be  regularly  credited  forty-eight  hours 
per  week;  it  being  understood  that  they  select  certain  portions 
of  each  day,  amounting  to  eight  hours,  during  which,  if  their 
health  and  the  comfort  of  their  children  permit,  they  shall 
hold  themselves  in  readiness  to  perform  such  labor  as  may 
reasonably  be  required  of  them. 


BY-LAWS,    RESOLVES,    ETC.  81 

"Voted,  To  defer  the  erection  of  a  dwelling-house  for  the. 
present,  and  proceed  with  all  convenient  dispatch  to  build  a 
mechanic  shop,  30  feet  by  40,  two  stories  above  the  basement, 
with  dam  and  water-power  sufficient  to  operate  the  more  neces- 
sary labor-saving  machinery  usual  in  such  establishments. 

"Voted,  To  accept  the  right  to  use  a  patent  shingle  machine 
purchased  by  the  President  and  Intendant  of  Manufactures, 
etc.,  for  SI 00.00. 

"Voted,  That  Tuesday  evening  of  each  week  be  devoted  to 
improvement  in  singing;  Thursday  evening  to  religious  confer- 
ence ;  and  Saturday  evening  to  the  reading  of  such  public 
papers  and  periodicals  as  may  be  taken  by  the  Community. 

"RESOLVE    RESPECTING    THE    ADMISSION    OF    MEMBERS    TO 
RESIDENCE. 

"Resolved,  That  no  person  shall  hereafter  be  entitled  to  resi- 
dence on  the  Community  domain  in  mere  virtue  of  having 
been  received  to  membership;  but  the  question  of  residence 
shall  in  all  cases  be  determined  by  the  Community  at  some 
regular  meeting. 

"BY-LAW    REGULATING     RECEPTION    AND     REPAYMENT    OF 
MONEYS. 

"  Hereafter  no  moneys  shall  be  received  into  the  Treasury 
of  this  Community  either  on  subscription  to  the  Joint  Stock 
or  on  special  deposit  for  gratuitous  use,  except  on  condition 
that  the  same  shall  not  be  withdrawn  without  at  least  ninety 
days'  notice  for  all  sums  under  five  hundred  dollars,  six  months' 
notice  for  all  sums  over  five  hundred  and  less  than  two  thou- 
sand dollars,  and  one  year's  notice  for  all  sums  exceeding  two 
thousand  dollars.  And  this  condition  shall  be  expressed  in 
the  body  or  on  the  back  of  all  certificates  and  receipts  issued 
for  moneys  so  received. 

"RESOLVE    RESPECTING    INDUCTIVE    CONFERENCES. 

"  Whereas,  no  eifectual  measures  have  been  taken  to  carry 
into  effect  the  plan  heretofore  proposed  for  gathering  our  scat- 
tered friends  into  Inductive  Conferences;  and  whereas  the  prog- 
ress of  our  cause  demands  the  immediate  prosecution  of  that 
plan  slightly  modified;  therefore 

"Resolved,  That  wherever  there  are  three  or  more  persons 
seriously  disposed  to  promote  the  principles  of  Practical  Chris- 

6 


82  THE   HOPEDALE   COMMUNITY. 

tianity  as  professed  by  the  Fraternal  Communion,  they  be  advised 
to  form  themselves  forthwith  into  a  religious  class  or  confer- 
ence inductive  to  this  Community;  and  that  to  facilitate  their 
organization  the  following  be  recommended  as  a  suitable  Con- 
stitution: 

"  We,  the  undersigned,  heartily  desiring  to  promote  in  our- 
selves and  others  the  growth  of  pure  Christianity  as  professed 
by  the  Fraternal  Communion  in  their  'Declaration'  of  princi- 
ples and  duties,  do  form  ourselves  into  a  religious  class,  to  be 

called  'The  Practical  Christian  Conference,  inductive  to 

Fraternal  Community  No.  1. ' 

"1.  Any  serious  person  may  become  a  member  of  this  Con- 
ference by  subscribing  its  Constitution.  Any  person  may  cease 
to  be  a  member  by  requesting  his  or  her  name  erased.  Any 
unworthy  member  may  be  disowned  after  ineffectual  admoni- 
tion. 

"2.  This  Conference  may  from  time  to  time  choose  such 
official  servants  as  shall  be  found  necessary  to  the  orderly  con- 
duct of  its  affairs. 

"3.  The  members  of  this  Conference  shall  meet  regularly 
for  Christian  worship  and  edification  at  least  once  on  the  first 
day  of  every  week,  and  by  agreement  at  such  other  times  as 
may  be  deemed  proper. 

"4.  This  Conference,  by  a  vote  of  two-thirds  of  the  mem- 
bers present  at  any  regular  meeting,  may  amend  this  Constitu- 
tion or  may  establish  such  regulations  not  inconsistent  with 
its  spirit  and  design  as  shall  at  any  time  be  found  necessary. 

"In  full  ratification  whereof  we  have  hereunto  severally  sub- 
scribed our  names  under  date  of  time  and  place  of  residence. 

"Resolved,  That  whenever  any  Inductive  Conference  may  be 
organized  in  accordance  with  the  advice  and  recommendation 
herein  given,  the  proper  official  servant  thereof  be  requested  to 
report  such  organization  immediately  to  the  Secretary  of  this 
Community,  in  order  that  our  Missionaries  may  visit  it  and 
a  regular  correspondence  be  maintained." 

The  foregoing  Votes,  Resolves,  etc.,  are  for  the  most 
.part  self-explanatory  and  hence  can  be  easily  understood 
by  the  reader.  The  one  concerning  Inductive  Conferences, 
however,  may  need  some  further  elucidation  in  order  to 
be  perfectly  clear  and  comprehensible.  It  will  have  been 


INDUCTIVE    CONFERENCES.  83 

noticed  that  only  a  part  of  the  members  of  Fraternal 
Community  No.  1  were  located  on  its  central  domain  at 
Hopedale.  Others  of  them,  and  for  some  time  a  major- 
ity, were  scattered  abroad  here  and  there  in  general 
•society,  prevented  from  coming  to  us,  either  by  our  ina- 
bility to  accommodate  them  with  suitable  housing  and 
remunerative  employment  or  by  their  own  condition  and 
•circumstances  in  life.  Besides  these  there  were  also 
many  other  persons  in  different  directions,  sympathizing 
friends  and  interested  inquirers,  who  believed  and  felt 
that  our  principles  and  aims  were  nearer  the  true  Chris- 
tian standard  of  faith  and  duty  than  those  of  the  pro- 
fessing Christian  world.  They  had  lost  confidence  in 
the  prevailing  fashionable  and  conventional  religion  and 
morality.  They  were  tired  of  the  existing  condition  of 
things  in  church  and  state.  They  longed  for  something 
better.  They  desired  and  prayed  for  a  higher,  diviner 
type  of  individual,  social,  and  civil  life  than  was  to  be 
found  in  the  world  at  large.  They  had  heard  of  us  and 
of  our  movement,  and  were  inclined  towards  us  and  it. 
They  would  like  to  know  more  of  both.  They  would  be 
happy  to  become  in  some  way  associated  with  us  and 
with  kindred  spirits  for  the  purpose  of  learning  more 
about  us,  about  our  views  of  truth  and  duty,  about  what 
we  were  doing  and  trying  to  do  at  Hopedale,  and  of 
improving  themselves  in  the  things  that  pertain  to  a 
noble  character  and  a  Christian  life.  And  this  they 
desired  with  an  expectation  of  sometime  actually  joining 
us  in  our  work,  if,  upon  better  acquaintance  with  us  and 
it,  they  should  feel  bound  in  conscience  to  do  so. 

It  was  for  such  as  these  —  detached  members,  special 
friends,  and  miscellaneous  inquirers  —  that  the  system  of 
Inductive  Conferences  was  devised  and  in  a  few  instances 
put  into  practical  operation.  Under  that  system,  the 
.several  parties  indicated,  dwelling  in  the  same  town, 
village,  or  general  neighborhood,  could  be  associated  with 


84  THE   HOPEDALE   COMMUNITY. 

each  other  and  with  us  in  an  effective  way  for  mutual 
counsel,  instruction,  and  encouragement,  for  nurturing  in 
themselves  and  each  other  the  religious  affections  and 
capabilities,  and  for  building  up  ultimately  a  fraternal 
order  of  human  society  among  men  and  the  kingdom  of 
God  upon  the  earth.  They  would  be  helped  by  affilia- 
ting with  us,  and  we  be  strengthened  and  inspired  by 
having  them  as  allied  co-workers,  as  fellow-devotees  of 
a  common  faith  and  hope,  and  as  possible  members  in 
full  fellowship  of  our  own  or  some  similar  Community. 
The  Conferences  thus  formed  were  to  be  missionary  sta- 
tions, to  be  regularly  visited  by  our  ministerial  brethren 
and  made  candlesticks  of  truth  and  righteousness  to 
all  the  region  round  about.  Members  of  them  would 
receive  and  distribute  our  writings,  would  assemble  with 
us  on  public  occasions,  would  be  living  testimonies  to 
the  excellence  of  our  ideas  and  aims,  and  so  help  to 
extend  our  influence  in  the  world.  They  would,  moreover, 
be  supplied  with  the  means  of  educating  their  children 
and  youth  in  the  doctrines  and  precepts  of  the  unadulter- 
ated Gospel  of  Christ,  whereby  they  would  be  qualified  to 
enter  upon  and  carry  forward  to  a  triumphant  success 
in  years  to  come  the  work  which  we  had  inaugurated  and 
which  was  so  full  of  promise  for  mankind.  Under  these 
prepossessions  and  auspices  was  established  the  system  of 
Inductive  Conferences,  first  announced  to  the  public  by 
the  Intend  ant  of  Religion,  Morals,  and  Missions,  Br.  Wm. 
H.  Fish,  in  The  Practical  Christian  of  Oct.  2,  1841,  but 
modified,  perfected,  and  finally  adopted  by  the  Community 
as  a  part  of  its  comprehensive  polity,  Aug.  8,  1842. 

In  order  to  show  still  further  how  we  were  getting  on 
as  a  Community  during  the  first  few  months  of  our  life 
at  Hopedale,  more  especially  in  the  matter  of  our  indus- 
trial activities,  I  will  make  a  quotation  from  an  article 
which  appeared  in  our  little  paper,  June  11,  1842,  enti- 
tled, "  Community  Affairs  "  : 


CONDITION    OF    THINGS   AT   HOPEDALE.  85 

"We  have  now  on  the  Hopedale  estate  forty-four  persons, 
all  boarded  in  one  general  family;  ten  men,  twelve  women,  and 
twenty-two  children  under  fifteen  years  of  age.  We  have  13 
cows,  4  yokes  of  oxen  and  steers,  2  horses  and  6  swine.  We 
have  planted  with  garden  vegetables  for  market  and  our  own 
use  some  3  acres,  with  indian  corn  4  or  more,  and  with  pota- 
toes and  beans  10  or  more;  in  all  from  17  to  20  acres.  We  \ 
have  made  numerous  repairs  in  and  upon  our  old  buildings;  j 
erected  a  new  one  32  by  14  feet,  one  and  a  half  story  above 
the  basement,  calculated  for  a  printing  office,  school  room, 
two  sleeping  apartments  on  the  upper  floor  and  two  rooms  for\j/ 
.shops  in  the  basement;  all,  of  course,  on  a  small  scale.  The 
brethren  have  just  commenced  a  dam  and  the  foundation  of  a 
mechanic  shop,  to  be  30  by  40  feet  in  size,  two  stories  high 
with  a  basement  designed  for  various  machines  to  be  operated 
by  water  power.  The  erection  and  furnishing  of  this  estab- 
lishment will  require  all  the  labor  and  resources  we  can  spare 
from  other  demands  for  several  months  to  come.  Our  business 
is  multiform  and  arduous.  There  is  everything  to  do  and 
small  means  with  which  to  operate.  Division  of  labor  is  also 
difficult  to  arrange  properly ;  but  we  have  got  along  better  than 
most  people  might  imagine  and  hope  for  better  days  ahead. 

"Our  school  is  now  in  running  order.  We  might  have  many 
boarding  pupils  if  we  could  accommodate  them,  but  that  is 
not  possible  at  present.  A  few  children  in  the  neighborhood 
•who  can  come  from  their  homes  will  probably  be  taught  in 
the  school.  The  printing  establishment  was  started  during 
the  last  week  in  May.  We  print  The  Practical  Christian  every 
fortnight,  and  are  prepared  to  do  most  kinds  of  job  work,  for 
which  we  already  have  several  orders.  Regular  meetings  for 
religious  instruction  and  worship  are  kept  up  in  our  own  house 
twice  on  Sunday,  and  a  conference  for  social  prayer,  praise, 
and  exhortation  on  Thursday  evenings.  These  meetings  are 
free  for  all  our  neighbors  and  friends  to  attend  who  choose. 
They  are  also  free  for  all  the  attendants  to  speak  as  they  feel 
impressed  with  a  sense  of  duty. 

"  We  are  happy  to  say  that  the  great  body  of  the  people  in 
the  region  immediately  around  us  evince  a  kind  and  friendly 
feeling  toward  us,  and  though  the  stand  we  have  taken  is  new, 
strange,  and  doubtful  to  them,  yet  they  seem  to  wish  us  nothing 
but  success.  And  if  there  are  others  who  feel  hostile  to  us  and 


86  THE    HOPEDALE    COMMUNITY. 

would  be  glad  to  see  us  explode,  may  God  enable  us  to  live 
down  their  opposition  by  righteousness  and  to  overcome  all 
evil  by  the  unwearied  exercise  of  love  and  meekness.  Thus 
far  we  rejoice  to  know  that  our  influence  is  salutary  on  one 
another  and  those  around  us. 

"Our  internal  affairs  are  getting  along  as  well  as  could  have 
been  expected,  especially  when  we  consider  the  very  great  dis- 
advantages under  which  we  are  placed  for  want  of  funds,  house 
room,  and  other  conveniences.  We  have  found  ourselves  in 
close  contact  with  each  other,  and  of  course  had  ample  oppor- 
tunities to  find  out  each  others  weaknesses,  failings,  and  beset- 
ting sins.  It  has  been  a  most  salutary  school,  in  which  the 
pupils  have  been  unlearning  old  dispositions,  habits,  tastes,, 
and  manners,  and  acquiring  new  ones,  as  we  trust  for  the 
better.  We  have  found  the  great  principles  and  well-defined 
duties  of  our  declaratory  test  equal  to  every  emergency  —  a 
bond  of  union  and  a  correcting  power  for  all  errors  of  feeling 
and  conduct.  Our  faith  is  therefore  unwavering  that  by  the 
help  of  God  we  shall  one  day  realize  our  highest  aspirations 
after  a  right  social  state.  In  the  meantime  our  numbers  and 
resources  are  gradually  increasing,  inquiries  are  becoming  more 
frequent  and  urgent  from  all  quarters,  and  we  press  forward 
to  the  fulfilment  of  our  high  mission." 

As  the  days,  weeks,  and  months  of  that  first  summer 
came  and  went,  we  extended  our  stakes  and  strained 
our  cords  to  the  utmost.  We  in  due  time  learned  that 
both  internally  and  externally  we  had  undertaken  over- 
much—  that  we  were  overtaxing  our  resources  and  our 
energies.  But  we  could  not  turn  back ;  we  could  not 
suspend  our  activities ;  we  must  go  forward,  but  more 
cautiously,  more  deliberately,  more  wisely.  We  had 
learned  that  nothing  was  to  be  feared  from  abroad,  from 
the  surrounding  world.  Whatever  threatened  us  in  that 
direction  at  the  outset  had  practically  disappeared  and 
all  motives  or  incentives  to  unity  and  fidelity  originating 
in  an  external  pressure  of  hostility  had  been  shorn  of 
their  strength.  Our  chief  if  not  only  danger  was  of  an 
internal  nature  —  from  enemies  within  our  own  gates. 
Our  prosperity,  success,  and  happiness  depended  largely 


ELEMENTS   OF   UNREST   EFFERVESCING.  87 

upon  reconciling  domestic  incongruities  and  preserving  a 
healthy  social  core.  As  we  were  all  human,  possessed  of 
the  frailties  and  imperfections,  to  say  nothing  of  the 
follies  and  sins,  of  our  common  nature,  we  had  within 
us  the  elements  of  unrest,  disorder,  confusion,  in  embry- 
onic if  not  in  nascent,  active  state.  And  it  was  not  long 
under  the  trying  circumstances  of  our  lot  before  those 
elements  began  to  effervesce.  We  had  started  out  with 
too  many  raw  recruits  —  with  too  many  undisciplined 
minds,  hearts,  and  wills.  There  were  whims,  fancies, 
crotchets,  in  the  heads  of  some  of  our  members,  which, 
after  becoming  somewhat  acquainted  with  their  associates, 
they  were  ambitious  to  ventilate,  and  magnify.  This 
they  sought  to  do  by  questions  or  propositions  involving 
them,  calculated  and  probably  designed  to  elicit  a  reply  or 
provoke  discussion.  The  hour  of  eating  was  their  opportu- 
nity and  they  improved  it,  modestly  and  suasively  at  first, 
causing  only  light  and  dispassionate  table  talk,  chaffing 
or  repartee.  But  this  soon  grew  into  something  more 
serious  and  earnest  —  into  eager  debate  and  sharp  dispu- 
tation. From  the  table  conversation  or  discussion  was 
transferred  to  regular  Community  meetings  held  for  busi- 
ness and  other  important  purposes.  For  awhile  the 
themes  of  inquiry,  remark,  or  controversy  were  chiefly 
dietetic,  physiological,  and  economic,  and  though  pos- 
sessed of  a  certain  intrinsic  value  and  significance  were 
not  urged  or  maintained  as  of  vital  or  even  weighty 
import  as  related  to  the  great  problem  of  social  recon- 
struction we  were  trying  to  solve.  So  long  as  this  was 
the  case  —  so  long  as  the  talk  was  novel  and  suggestive 
or  inquisitive,  no  harm  came  of  it  and  no  one  was  dis- 
turbed by  it  or  complained  of  it.  But  when,  as  was  the 
case  after  a  time,  the  topics  were  magnified  into  matters 
of  indispensable  concern,  entitled  to  paramount  considera- 
tion like  that  given  to  the  primary  principles  of  moral  and 
social  order  and  the  divinely  imposed  duties  of  life,  and 


88  THE   HOPEDALE   COMMUNITY. 

were  put  forward  in  a  dogmatic  spirit  and  form,  then  the 
matter  appeared  in  a  new  phase,  assumed  a  more  threat- 
ening aspect,  and  awakened  apprehensions  of  coining  ill 
to  all  concerned  in  the  minds  of  our  better  and  more 
responsible  members.  And  when  these,  roused  to  a  sense 
of  impending  danger,  raised  a  firm  but  calm  protest 
against  the  unwarrantable  assumptions  and  claims  that 
had  been  put  forth,  they  were  met,  not  with  kindly  and 
reasonable  consideration,  but  rather  with  resentful  petu- 
lance and  with  insinuations  that  after  all  the  professions 
of  fraternal  equality  made  to  the  world,  there  was  a 
smattering  of  aristocracy  to  be  found  even  in  that  lowly 
old  house.  Under  that  pretence  there  were  some  attempts 
set  in  motion  to  draw  our  poorer  and  humbler  members 
into  a  sort  of  democratic  cabal  for  the  maintenance  of 
their  proper  rights  under  the  Constitution.  This  move- 
ment, however,  was  of  little  avail,  those  thus  appealed 
to  realizing  instinctively  who  were  their  real  friends  and 
under  whose  leadership  they  would  be  likely  to  fare 
best.  Nevertheless,  the  uneasy  elements,  unwilling  to 
yield  or  to  be  silenced,  began  to  inveigh  against  our 
Joint-Stock  system  of  finance  and  to  glorify  that  of  com- 
mon property  as  much  more  to  be  preferred  in  founding 
a  new  social  state.  This  proved  a  more  serious  matter 
in  the  end,  as  will  ere  long  be  made  to  appear. 

Meantime  a  case  of  personal  inharmony  and  unpleas- 
antness arose  between  two  of  our  original  number  from 
whom  we  never  expected  anything  but  the  most  amicable 
relations.  These  were  our  carpenters  whose  business  it 
was  to  build  our  projected  Mechanic  Shop  in  mutual 
co-operation.  All  at  once  it  transpired  that  they  could 
not  agree  in  their  consultations  and  operations  and  that 
considerable  unhappy  feeling  existed  between  them.  I 
was  most  painfully  surprised  when  informed  of  this,  as 
I  had  a  high  regard  for  both  of  the  men.  But  the 
trouble  sprang  very  naturally  from  their  dissimilar  tern- 


NOVELTY   YIELDS   TO   REALITY.  89 

pers,  tastes,  and  judgments.  One  of  them,  the  official 
he  ad  of  the  work,  was  a  plain,  unpolished,  rustic  sort  of 
man,  extremely  sensitive,  retiring,  and  secretive ;  the 
other  was  more  fanciful  and  sanguine,  blunt  and  sarcas- 
tic in  speech,  and  ambitious  to  direct  withal,  feeling  no 
doubt  a  little  chagrined  that  his  associate  held  a  higher 
position  than  he.  The  result  was  that  they  became 
mutually  disagreeable  and  repellant,  drawing  apart  from 
each  other.  This  was  the  first  palpable  instance  of  dis- 
cord among  us  and  was  most  mortifying  to  my  feelings 
on  the  score  of  acknowledged  principles,  but  no  less  so 
to  my  Community  ambition.  The  inharmony  was  molli- 
fied and  quieted  down  somewhat  by  our  pacific  social 
discipline,  though  never  entirely  healed. 

As  the  tinsel  of  novelty  wore  off  and  the  hard  actuali- 
ties of  our  uncomfortable  domestic  situation  began  to 
overtax  our  nerves,  we  lost  a  portion  of  our  spiritual 
enthusiasm,  firmness,  and  patience.  Our  religious  natures 
no  less  than  our  physical  suffered  for  want  of  needed 
solitude  and  repose,  as  they  did  for  lack  of  wholesome 
nurture  and  stimulus  to  holy  aspiration  and  endeavor. 
Social,  secular,  a^ud  financial  matters  engrossed  so  much 
of  our  attention  and  energy  that  our  higher  faculties 
were  partially  starved.  We  suffered  in  the  very  partic- 
ular of  which  we  were  forewarned  in  the  letter  of 
Doctor  Channing.  As  a  consequence,  every  temptation 
that  assailed  us  was  less  resistable  than  would  otherwise 
have  been  the  case. 

In  such  states  of  mind  we  were  beset  by  those  dis- 
cussions referred  to  a  few  pages  back,  which,  though 
held  somewhat  in  check  by  the  controlling  minds  among 
us  or  rendered  partially  nugatory,  nevertheless,  could  not 
be  wholly  suppressed  or  shorn  of  mischievous  influence. 
Indeed,  on  the  whole,  they  rather  increased,  growing 
from  bad  to  worse,  —  from  mere  annoyances  to  threat- 
ening perils.  So  that  when  they  were  met  on  this 


\BRAfTy 

OF  THB 

/ERSITT 


90  THE   HOPEDALE   COMMUNITY. 

ground  and  when  the  points  contended  for  by  those  lead- 
ing off  in  them  were  repudiated  by  the  better  sentiment 
of  the  Community,  a  crisis  was  brought  on  which  resulted 
in  the  withdrawal  of  four  of  our  new  members.  Reuben  H. 
Brown  and  wife,  Clother  G-ifford,  and  Lorenzo  Smith ;  the 
first  secession  that  had  occurred  among  us.  They  were 
displeased  with  our  general  system,  and  when  they  left 
avowed  a  determination  to  start  a  new  movement,  basing 
it  upon  better  principles  and  administering  it  in  a  more 
fraternal  spirit ;  a  task,  however,  for  which  they  had 
neither  the  capacity,  the  character,  nor  the  pecuniary 
means.  There  was  more  rejoicing  than  sorrow  at  their 
departure,  and  their  promised  El  Dorado  was  never  heard 
of  afterwards. 

Unfortunately,  the  leaven  which  wrought  their  disaffec- 
tion and  separation  from  us  was  not  all  taken  with  them 
when  they  went  away.  Enough  of  it  remained  to  work 
further  trouble,  and  all  the  more  trouble  because  it  had 
found  a  lodgment  in  better  and  more  influential  minds. 
Even  our  ministering  brother,  David  R.  Lamson,  from 
whom  only  the  best  things  had  been  anticipated,  became 
infected  with  it,  causing  him  at  length  to  follow  on  after 
those  who  had  gone  before.  In  his  case  it  manifested 
itself  in  a  resolute  zeal  in  behalf  of  the  poorer  and  more 
dependent  members,  for  whom  he  demanded  in  the  name 
of  the  Constitution  greater  privileges  and  more  favors 
than  they  were  in  the  way  of  enjoying.  His  first  open 
demonstration  in  this  direction  was  in  the  form  of  a 
claim  that  his  own  wife  who  had  a  nursing  child,  and 
other  mothers  similarly  situated,  should  be  allowed  regular 
wages  for  taking  care  of  their  little  ones,  on  the  ground 
that  a  common  nursery  wras  guaranteed  in  our  funda- 
mental law,  and  that,  notwithstanding  it  was  as  yet  an 
impossibility  in  form,  its  provisions  should  in  substance 
be  insured  to  those  they  were  designed  to  benefit.  Upon 
being  questioned  as  to  how  many  hours  per  day  ought 


ECCENTRICITIES    OF   D.   R.   LAMSON.  91 

to  be  credited  to  nursing  mothers,  be  replied  that  in  the 
case  of  his  own  wife  sixteen  would  be  no  more  than 
just.  This  would  be  twice  as  many  as  were  allowed  our 
common  working  men  and  women ;  that  is,  one  dollar  per 
day  while  they  received  only  fifty  cents.  Some  of  us 
were  hardly  in  a  mood  to  accept  such  an  interpretation 
of  the  principle  of  justice  or  to  grant  the  claims  based 
upon  it.  After  long  consideration  of  the  matter  and 
much  tedious  discussion,  I  proposed  a  compromise  regu- 
lation, which  was  duly  approved  by  the  Community,  to 
the  effect  that  nursing  mothers  be  regularly  credited  for 
eight  hours'  service  a  day,  provided,  that  if  the  nature 
of  the  case  reasonably  admitted  of  it  they  should  perform 
more  common  domestic  labor  occasionally. 

Another  manifestation  of  Brother  Lamson's  peculiar- 
cast  of  mind  or  eccentricity  of  judgment  appeared  in  his 
proposition,  or  perhaps  suggestion,  that  such  of  our  min- 
isters as  had  occasion  to  go  abroad  to  preach  or  lecture 
should  offer  rides  to  the  mothers  who  were  ordinarily 
confined  and  care-worn  at  home,  especially  when  they 
went  alone  and  when  nothing  would  be  added  to  the 
expense  thereby.  Brother  Lamson  seemed  to  have  a 
special  interest  in  and  sympathy  for  the  particular  class 
of  persons  indicated,  and  to  put  himself  forward  as  the 
guardian  and  champion  of  their  rights  and  privileges, 
although,  so  far  as  ever  came  to  the  public  ear,  they 
never  asked  for  or  desired  such  interposition  in  their 
behalf.  He  even  went  so  far  as  to  admonish  me 
directly  in  open  Community  meeting  for  calling  on  those 
referred  to  so  seldom  and  paying  them  so  little  personal 
attention.  This  implication  of  neglect  of  duty  and  viola- 
tion of  solemn  pledges  of  fraternal  interest  and  regard 
was  as  unreasonable  as  it  was  humiliating,  inasmuch  as 
the  multitude  of  my  cares  and  labors,  keeping  me  busily 
employed  from  early  dawn  till  late  at  night  —  not  infre- 
quently till  near  midnight  and  sometimes  after  —  together 


92  THE   HOPEDALE   COMMUNITY. 

with  the  wear  and  tear  of  my  anxieties  for  the  success 
of  our  common  cause,  was  taxing  my  energy  and 
strength  to  the  utmost  limit,  as  was  obvious  enough  to 
every  reflecting  observer.  Still,  I  did  not  presume  to 
deny  my  sins  of  omission  in  the  particular  named ;  I 
only  offered  what  I  felt  to  be  sufficient  excuses  in  vindi- 
cation of  my  course.  This  little  breeze  presently  sub- 
sided. It  was  sometimes  hard  to  feel  that  the  brother 
who  caused  it  was  altogether  disinterested  and  magnani- 
mous in  his  action,  since  his  own  wife  was  one  of  the 
few  who  were  to  be  particularly  favored  by  his  scheme, 
while  other  women  there  were  among  us,  as  worthy  of 
consideration  as  she,  weighed  down  and  worn  to  utter 
exhaustion  almost  by  the  toil  and  drudgery  of  twelve  or 
fifteen  hours  per  day  imposed  upon  them  by  their  position 
in  the  administration  of  household  affairs,  for  whom  he 
offered  no  method  or  proposition  of  recreation  or  relief. 

Another  exhibition  of  Brother  Lamson's  solicitude  for 
the  well-being  and  protection  of  our  humbler  and  more 
dependent  ones  was  far  graver  in  both  its  nature  and 
results  than  those  mentioned,  and  drew  to  his  side  several 
members  of  good  esteem.  It  was  made  in  ,  connection 
with  the  discussions  that  were  carried  on  respecting  the 
erection  of  new  dwelling-houses  for  the  general  conveni- 
ence and  comfort,  and  their  permanent  occupancy.  Inci- 
dent to  those  discussions  arose  the  question  as  to  who 
should  be  put  in  possession  of  the  new  habitations  and 
enjoy  the  many  privileges  they  would  offer  when  they 
were  completed.  There  were  of  necessity  but  few  of 
them  at  first  and  it  was  a  foregone  conclusion  forced 
upon  us  by  our  limited  means,  that  a  considerable  num- 
ber of  us  must  for  some  time  yet  remain  in  the  old 
quarters  and  share  still  longer  the  discomforts  existing 
there,  though  the  contemplated  reduction  of  numbers 
would  afford  partial  relief.  And  the  question  referred  to 
elicited  much  difference  of  opinion  and  a  sharp  coutro- 


INGENIOUS   ARGUMENTS.  9£ 

versy.  Brother  Lamson  was  foremost  in  the  field,  declar- 
ing that  our  principles  and  constitutional  pledges  bound 
ns  to  give  the  poorest  and  least  efficient  the  preference 
in  the  matter,  and  that  the  most  talented  and  responsi- 
ble should  be  the  last  to  receive  favors  and  advantages 
of  any  sort  at  the  hands  of  the  Community.  His  argu- 
ments were  elaborated  with  much  ingenuity  on  the  basis 
of  those  divine  precepts  to  which  we  all  bowed,  viz.  : 
"He  that  is  chief  among  you  let  him  be  the  servant  of 
all";  "It  is  more  blessed  to  give  than  to  receive"; 
"We  then  that  are  strong  ought  to  bear  the  infirmities 
of  the  weak,  and  not  to  please  ourselves,"  etc. 

His  plea  was  plausible  and  worn  the  endorsement  of 
several  of  our  most  worthy  associates.  It  would  have 
been  deemed  more  conclusive  by  others  had  not  a  few 
glaring  and  significant  facts  been  closely  connected  with 
it;  facts  too  apparent  to  escape  notice.  (1)  That 
Brother  Lamson  and  his  warm  sympathizers  were  inter- 
ested expectants  of  the  preferments  contended  for;  (2) 
That  those  of  us  who  under  his  contention  must  endure 
yet  longer  indefinitely  the  existing  discomforts  were  to 
furnish,  either  by  subscription  or  personal  credit,  the 
capital  requisite  for  the  erection  of  the  new  structures 
and  assume  all  the  responsibility  involved;  (3)  That 
some  of  us  who  would  by  his  proposal  be  shut  out  of 
the  prospective  dwellings  and  deprived  of  the  better 
accommodations  they  would  offer,  were  in  danger  of 
sinking  under  the  burdens  we  were  voluntarily  bearing 
for  the  good  of  all  our  members,  and  that  our  whole 
enterprise  was  likely  to  suffer  great  detriment,  if  not  put 
in  imminent  peril,  unless  some  relief  could  be  furnished 
them  like  that  which  the  new  residences  and  the  retire- 
ment and  quiet  of  them  would  supply. 

In  reply  to  Brother  Lamson' s  argument  it  was  said 
that  while  the  principles  upon  which  it  rested  were  sound, 
the  application  made  of  them  was  unwarrantable  and 


THE   HOPEDALE   COMMUNITY. 

misleading ;  that  we,  who  must  take  the  heavy  responsi- 
bilities of  erecting  the  prospective  dwellings  claimed  no 
exclusive  accommodations  but  were  justly  entitled  to  a 
reasonable  share  of  them  ;  that  we  had  made  and  should 
continue  to  make  willing  sacrifices  for  the  comfort  and 
happiness  of  all  our  associates ;  that  there  was  no  just 
occasion  for  setting  up  class  distinctions  and  preferences 
in  the  matter  under  discussion ;  and  finally,  that  it  was 
absolutely  painful  and  disheartening  to  find  that  past 
labors  and  sacrifices  in  behalf  of  our  common  cause  and 
our  more  dependent  fellow-members  inspired  them  with 
so  little  confidence,  love,  and  gratitude.  Brother  Lamsou 
took  such  umbrage  at  this  last  remark  and  its  implied 
censure  of  some  of  our  numbers  for  lack  of  appreciation 
of  what  had  been  done  gratuitously  and  with  no  expecta- 
tion of  payment  or  reward,  that  he  warmly  denounced  it 
as  contrary  to  our  covenant  obligations,  and  protested 
that  the  word  ''gratitude"  had  no  place  in  our  Commu- 
nity vocabulary.  We  had  come  together  as  equals,  to 
enjoy  co-ordinate  rights,  and  to  do  what  each  could  for 
the  other  and  for  all  concerned.  And  to  talk  of  favors, 
sacrifices,  and  above  all  of  gratitude,  was  wholly  out  of 
place  and  inexcusable.  I  as  the  mouthpiece  of  the 
majority  replied  that  our  whole  movement  recognized  the 
primary  right  of  the  individual  to  whatever  property, 
talents,  and  gifts  of  any  sort  were  justly  his  or  her  own, 
and  that  the  social  fabric  we  were  trying  to  build  did 
not  presuppose  or  require  the  annihilation  of  the  distinc- 
tive personality  of  its  members ;  consequently,  what  was 
put  into  the  Community  for  the  benefit  of  all  concerned 
and  for  the  special  benefit  of  the  weaker  and  more  needy 
persons  among  us  was  so  contributed  under  the  law  of 
brotherhood  and  charity,  not  of  arbitrary  justice,  and 
should  be  so  understood.  Appreciation  of  and  gratitude 
for  favors  received  imply  no  humiliation  or  degradation  on 
the  part  of  those  upon  whom  they  are  conferred  and  no 


DIVERGENT   TENDENCIES    DEVELOPED.  95 

condescension  of  assumed  superiority  on  the  part  of  those 
from  whom  they  come ;  but  a  reciprocal  respect,  affection, 
and  confidence.  When,  in  urging  the  merits  of  our  cause 
before  the  public,  I  added,  I  have  been  met  with  the 
objection  that  the  more  dependent  and  less  responsible  of 
our  number  would  claim  every  advantage  extended  to 
them  as  a  right,  and  be  made  by  the  generosity  of 
those  able  and  willing  to  help  them  more  discontented 
and  exacting,  I  have  denied  the  statement  as  an  impu- 
tation upon  the  better  impulses  of  human  nature  and 
upon  the  Christian  spirit  of  brotherhood  in  the  human 
soul.  And  I  am  disappointed  and  made  heartsick  at 
these  contrary  developments  —  by  these  indications  that 
our  critics  and  detractors  had  a  surer  basis  for  their  con- 
clusions than  I  dreamed  of. 

And  so  the  discussion  went  on  for  some  time  during 
that  first  summer  and  the  succeeding  autumn  of  1842. 
There  was  nothing  in  it  that  could  be  deemed  discourte- 
ous, caustic,  or  bitter,  at  least  that  savored  of  hatred 
and  animosity,  but  it  was  earnest,  determined,  sharp  at 
times,  and  unpleasantly  personal.  The  general  tendency 
and  effect  of  it  were  to  produce  more  or  less  of  irritation, 
unrest,  alienation.  To  the  better  minds  among  us  it  was 
a  source  of  deep  regret  and  discouragement.  But  it  could 
not  be  suppressed  or  avoided.  There  was  such  a  radical 
difference  of  views  and  feelings,  convictions  and  judg- 
ments, between  the  two  parties  that  had  sprung  into 
being,  and  withal  such  strength  of  purpose  and  pertinac- 
ity of  will  on  both  sides,  that  neither  would  or  could  in 
conscience  yield  to  the  other  and  so  end  the  controversy. 
For  the  same  reason  no  compromise  could  be  made  and 
no  harmonious  combination  or  warmhearted  co-operation 
effected. 

As  will  have  been  observed,  the  trend  of  Brother  Lam- 
son's  mind  and  of  his  arguments  as  well  as  that  of  his 
sympathizers,  was  in  the  direction  of  an  absolute  extinc- 


96  THE    HOPEDALE   COMMUNITY. 

tion  of  what  may  be  termed  individualism  in  the  Com- 
munity—  a  denial  of  all  exclusive  right  to  property,  to 
privilege,  to  the  use  and  voluntary  disposal  of  one's  time, 
talent,  endowment  of  any  sort,  on  the  part  of  any  of  its 
members.  His  interpretations  of  the  Constitution  were  in 
that  interest  and  behalf,  as  were  also  his  pleas  for  nursing 
mothers  who  could  perform  no  remunerative  labor  for  an 
equal  distribution  of  wages  without  regard  to  competency, 
fidelity,  or  efficiency,  and  for  the  assignment  of  the  newly 
built  houses  to  those  who  had  assumed  no  responsibility 
and  contributed  neither  money  nor  work  in  the  construc- 
tion of  them.  But  the  Community  was  not  established  on 
any  such  foundation  as  that,  and  was  never  designed  or 
calculated  to  foster,  promote,  and  represent  before  the 
world  such  ideas,  nor  had  its  administration  thus  far  been 
carried  on  in  accordance  with  such  principles  and  methods 
of  operation.  Moreover,  the  leading  minds  in  our  fellow- 
ship, with  the  exception  of  the  brother  named,  were  loyal 
to  the  original  purpose  of  the  movement  and  to  the  gen- 
eral system  of  Joint-Stock  proprietorship  and  of  personal 
rights,  duties,  and  obligations  which  had  thus  far  pre- 
vailed, and  consequently  averse  to  all  theories  or  claims 
calculated  to  subvert  them  or  in  any  way  discredit  or 
ignore  them.  And  a  large  majority  of  our  number  were 
of  the  same  way  of  thinking  and  acting. 

At  this  juncture  and  crisis  of  affairs  we  were  con- 
fronted with  this  alternative  :  either  the  Community  must 
be  dissolved  or  its  Constitution  must  be  amended  on  the 
points  relating  to  the  dead  level  of  wages,  board,  etc., 
and  to  some  of  its  extreme  and  indiscriminate  guarantees ; 
for  on  these  points  had  most  of  the  discordant  issues 
been  raised.  The  only  third  course  that  could  be  sug- 
gested was  to  follow  Brother  Lamsou's  lead  and  transform 
our  Joint-Stock  Community  into  a  Common-Stock  Com- 
munity, making  all  the  other  changes  in  our  organization 
and  polity  which  such  a  transformation  would  necessitate. 


AMEMDMENTS    TO    THE   CONSTITUTION.  97 

But  that  was  out  of  the  question  —  utterly  impractica- 
ble, for  various  substantial  reasons,  and  not  to  be  con- 
sidered for  a  moment.  So  we  were  thrown  back  upon 
the  alternative  mentioned.  But  what  was  to  come  of 
dissolution?  Nothing  but  shame,  blasting,  disaster  to 
all  our  avowed  principles  and  most  sacredly  cherished 
hopes ;  a  virtual  denial  of  our  much  vaunted  faith ;  a 
trampling  in  the  dust  of  our  blessed  Standard  of  Prac- 
tical Christianity.  On  the  other  hand,  if  the  amend- 
ments of  the  Constitution  necessary  to  save  our  little 
craft  were  made,  several  of  our  worthy,  albeit  mistaken 
members,  as  we  thought,  would  be  likely  to  secede, 
and  that  would  impair  our  standing  and  lessen  our 
influence  with  the  outside  public.  Besides,  in  striving 
to  escape  the  Scylla  of  threatening  Communism,  we 
might  fall  into  the  Charybdis  of  selfish,  unscrupulous, 
and  hard-hearted  Individualism,  which  would  be  no  less 
fatal  to  our  highest  purposes  and  noblest  aims,  —  to  all 
we  were  trying  to  stand  for  before  God  and  men.  We 
were  in  a  critical  and  dangerous  strait. 

Nevertheless,  after  much  painful  reflection  on  my  own 
part  and  numerous  earnest  conferences  with  several  of 
my  fellow-members,  some  of  whom  were  also  deeply  exer- 
cised in  regard  to  the  matter,  I  addressed  myself  to  the 
task  of  preparing  such  amendments  of  the  Constitution 
as  would  meet  the  exigencies  of  the  case  and  enable  us 
to  go  on  harmoniously  and  successfully  with  the  work  to, 
which  we  had  sacredly  pledged  our  lives,  our  fortunes, 
and  our  sacred  honor.  This  was  accomplished  in  due 
time  and  the  result  was  submitted  to  the  consideration, 
emendation,  and  final  action  of  the  Community  in  regular 
meeting  assembled  on  the  16th  day  of  November.  The 
several  changes  made,  approved,  and  adopted  appear  in 
the  following  form : 


98  THE   HOPEDALE   COMMUNITY. 

"  AMENDMENTS. 
"  ARTICLE  IV. 

" Add  one  Section: 

"SEC.  4.  For  the  accommodation  of  such  members  as  may 
prefer  to  build  houses  and  transact  business  independently  of 
the  Joint-Stock  Proprietorship,  each  Community  shall  select  a 
Village  Site,  lay  off  house-lots  and  sell  the  same,  as  oppor. 
tunity  may  offer,  to  any  members  who  will  come  under  obliga- 
tions that  such  lots  with  all  their  buildings  and  betterments 
shall  revert  to  the  Community  at  a  fair  appraisal  whenever 
they  shall  cease  to  be  owned  within  the  pale  of  its  member- 
ship, or  whenever  they  shall  be  abused  to  purposes  notoriously 
inconsistent  with  the  principles  of  this  Association. 

"  ARTICLE  V. 

"Strike  out  Sees.  3,  4,  5,  and  insert  as  follows: 
"  SEC.  3.  All  operatives  of  every  description  belonging  to 
any  Community,  whether  employed  at  home  or  abroad  by  the 
Community  or  by  individual  members  on  their  own  account, 
shall  be  allowed  a  fair  compensation  according  to  the  nature 
and  productiveness  of  the  service  rendered  as  may  be  mutu- 
ally agreed  on  between  the  parties,  never  exceeding  one  dollar 
per  day,  six  dollars  per  week,  twenty-four  dollars  per  month, 
or  three  hundred  dollars  per  year. 

"  ARTICLE  VI. 

"  Strike  out  at  the  end  of  Sec.  3  these  words,  '  its  floating 
fund  or  ordinary  resources,'  and  in  lieu  thereof  insert  the  fol- 
lowing: 'funds  raised  by  voluntary  contribution.' 

"  ARTICLE  VII. 

"Strike  out  the  whole  Article  and  insert  the  following : 
"  Every  Community  in  this  Association  shall  endeavor  to 
grow,  manufacture,  purchase  at  wholesale,  or  otherwise  provide, 
all  articles  of  ordinary  use  and  consumption,  so  as  to  supply 
the  personal  necessities  of  all  its  members  and  dependents. 
And  every  item  furnished  at  a  price  for  the  supply  of  such 
necessities,  whether  by  the  Community  or  individual  members, 
«hall  be  afforded  at  cost  as  nearly  as  the  same  can  be  ascer- 
tained. 


NATURE    OF   CHANGES   MADE.  99 

"ARTICLE    VIIL 

"Strike  out  the  whole  Article  and  insert: 

"  The  clear  profits  of  every  Community  in  this  Association 
not  exceeding  four  per  cent,  per  annum  on  capital  for  the 
whole  time  of  its  investment,  shall  be  divided  among  the 
Stockholders  according  to  the  amount  by  them  severally  in- 
vested. And  all  excess  of  profits  over  the  said  four  per  cent. 
shall  be  devoted  to  such  religious,  educational,  or  charitable 
purposes  as  the  Community  may  from  time  to  time  determine. 

"ARTICLE    IX. 

"Add  the  following  words: 

"This  article  shall  be  carried  into  effect  by  voluntary  con- 
tribution. 

"ARTICLE  X. 

"Sec.  4,  fourth  line,  strike  out  'established'  and  insert 
*  highest."' 

The  intent  and  practical  effect  of  these  Amendments 
had  been  stated  in  The  Practical  Christian  of  October 
29,  and  were  elaborated  more  fully  at  the  meeting  in 
which  they  were  finally  adopted.  I  copy  them  as  they 
appeared  in  their  more  condensed  form,  as  follows : 

"1.  They  restore  a  large  amount  of  individuality  to  the 
members  of  a  Community  and  leave  every  one  at  liberty  to 
associate  his  capital  and  labor  in  the  Joint-Stock  operations 
to  such  an  extent  from  year  to  year  as  he  may  feel  to  be  a 
duty  and  a  pleasure;  or,  on  the  Bother  hand,  ^to  dwell  and 
transact  business  by  himself,  as  he  may  prefer;  in  either  case 
acknowledging  himself  bound  to  educate  his  children,  trade, 
and  assist  his  feeble  brethren,  on  the  same  general  principles 
as  before. 

"2.  They  enable  a  Community  to  combine  all  the  privileges 
of  a  well-ordered  village  of  free-minded,  conscientious  individ- 
uals and  those  of  a  close  association  of  capital  and  labor  with- 
out the  disadvantages  of  either.  They  adapt  the  Community 
organization  to  the  wants  of  all  classes  of  Practical  Christians 
without  imposing  excessive  burdens  or  restraints  upon  any, 
and  thus  give  association  the  vantage  ground  of  a  fair  experi- 
ment on  its  own  merits.  If  it  prove  to  be  as  pleasant  and 


100  THE   HOPEDALE   COMMUNITY. 

economical  as  we  have  all  hoped,  it  will  tend  to  bring  over 
the  lovers  of  individuality  and  make  them  willing  co-operators. 
If  not,  the  same  principles  of  justice  and  charity  may  be 
carried  out  in  the  other  way. 

"3.  They  break  up  all  unreasonable  dependence  on  the 
capital  and  industry  of  the  provident  part  of  a  Community, 
quicken  self-reliance,  induce  economy,  and  make  a  just  distinc- 
tion between  alms  and  wages,  gifts  and  debts. 

"4.  They  place  all  the  members  of  a  Community,  whether 
resident  or  non-resident,  having  much  or  little  in  the  Joint- 
Stock,  on  a  common  level,  under  the  same  reciprocal  obliga- 
tions and  responsibilities.  Justice  is  done  to  all  and  charity 
is  required  of  all.  No  one  can  hide  behind  the  mass;  none 
can  screen  themselves  under  constitutional  prescriptions  from 
voluntary  contributions  to  support  schools  and  relieve  the 
needy.  Every  one  will  appear  in  his  own  true  light. 

"5.  They  will  disencumber  capital  of  its  present  great  risks 
and  dangerous  liabilities,  give  it  a  moderate  but  sure  profit, 
and  at  the  same  time  secure  to  labor  its  just  compensation. 

"  6.  Finally,  they  simplify  our  whole  social  machinery,  make 
the  experiment  perfectly  safe  on  a  large  or  small  scale,  and 
render  the  Community  relationship  more  equitable,  more  pleas- 
ant, and  more  practicable  to  all  free,  honest,  and  unselfish 
minds." 

The  reader  will  naturally  infer  that  such  important 
changes  as  those  specified  could  not  have  been  consum- 
mated without  serious  opposition  on  the  part  of  those 
whose  unwarrantable  claims  under  the  original  Constitu- 
tion had  jeopardized  both  our  harmony  and  hopes,  and 
thereby  rendered  them  necessary.  Such  inference  is  cor- 
rect. Long  and  earnest  debates  were  carried  on  before 
the  final  decision  was  reached,  but  the  requisite  three- 
fourths  majority  was  at  length  secured  and  the  new 
policy  was  made  imperative  and  obligatory.  Whereupon, 
several  of  the  opposition  were  so  aggrieved  as  to  imme- 
diately resign  their  membership  and  several  others  delayed 
doing  so  only  for  a  short  time ;  while  a  few,  not  ready 
to  take  such  a  step  and  abandon  the  cause  altogether, 
still  felt  that  the  Community  had  backslidden  lamentably 


GLORIFICATION   OF   THE   SHAKERS.  101 

from  its  primal  virtue.  About  a  dozen  in  all  seceded  by 
reason  of  the  action  taken,  some  of  whom,  however, 
upon  further  deliberation,  rejoined  us.  But  the  larger 
portion  left  us  to  return  no  more,  carrying  with  them  an 
^vil  report  which  no  doubt  for  a  time  affected  unfavora- 
bly our  standing  and  influence  wherever  we  were  known. 
Of  these,  the  principal,  Brother  Lamson,  soon  after  went 
to  reside  with  the  Shakers  at  Pittsfield,  thinking  to  find 
in  their  midst  that  heaven  upon  earth  which  he  had 
hoped  for  in  Hopedale  but  had  not  realized.  For  a 
while  all  went  happily  with  him  there,  so  that  at  the  end 
of  six  weeks  he  wrote  a  letter  to  Brother  Stacy  extolling 
the  situation  in  which  he  was  placed  and  the  people  with 
whom  he  had  cast  his  fortunes  to  the  highest  degree.  The 
letter  was  given  a  place  in  the  columns  of  our  little 
paper.  It  was  and  still  is  interesting  reading.  A  few 
extracts  will  indicate  its  spirit  and  character.  "-They 
(the  Shakers)  are  what  they  profess  to  be.  And  this 
1  never  could  say  of  any  other  denomination  of  Chris- 
tians. They  are  in  a  very  eminent  sense  Practical  Chris- 
tians." "This  people  live  under  the  divine  government; 
and  the  greatest  harmony  and  Christian  affection  prevail 
among  them."  "Their  property  is  held  in  common;  they 
do  their  own  labor ;  a  personal  equality  prevails  through- 
out, except  that  the  sick,  the  feeble,  and  the  aged  receive 
the  utmost  care  and  tenderness.  The  intercourse  among 
them  is  like  that  of  a  well-regulated  family  of  natural 
brothers  and  sisters."  "In  order  to  know  them  and 
appreciate  their  religion  and  its  blessed  influence  upon 
the  life  it  is  necessary  to  live  with  them."  And  yet, 
after  a  more  conclusive  trial,  Brother  Lamsou  withdrew 
from  these  eminent  Practical  Christians,  returned  to  gen- 
eral society,  which  he  had  professedly  renounced  and 
often  denounced  unsparingly  for  its  unchristian  charac- 
ter, purchased  and  settled  upon  a  little  farm  in  West 
Boylstou,  and  was  never  heard  from  afterwards ;  —  cer- 


102  THE   HOPEDALE   COMMUNITY. 

taiuly  not  as  a  Social  Reformer  and  an  Apostle  of 
Human  Brotherhood.  He  died  July  2,  1886,  aged  80 
years.  His  wife,  an  estimable  woman,  shared  his  varied 
fortunes  sympathetically  and  devotedly  while  she  lived, 
passing  to  the  world  of  spirits  some  years  before  him. 

Our  movement  could  but  suffer  more  or  less  by  the 
trying  experiences  which  have  just  been  narrated.  Not 
only  by  loss  of  reputation  and  confidence  in  the  public 
mind,  but  by  the  saddening,  depressing  effect  produced 
upon  those  of  us  who  had  done  so  much  for  it,  and  who 
were  resolved  to  stand  by  it  still  and  to  spend  and  be 
spent  in  its  blessed  behalf.  As  the  prime  mover  in 
starting  it  and  the  accepted  leader  in  the  administration 
of  its  manifold  activities,  I  was  personally  humiliated  and 
weakened  by  what  had  transpired.  I  felt  less  confidence 
in  my  own  moral  competency  for  the  work  I  had  under- 
taken, less  in  the  fitness  of  others  for  the  kind  of  life 
upon  which  we  had  entered,  and  less  in  our  desired 
speedy  success.  The  more  intelligent  and  conscientious 
of  my  associates  sympathized  with  me  in  this  regard.  We 
were  all  of  us  shorn  somewhat  of  our  former  strength. 
Our  principles  were  as  true  as  ever  and  as  obligatory,, 
our  cause  was  as  sacred,  our  standard  of  duty  as  high> 
and  our  Heavenly  Father  as  much  our  Friend  and  Helper 
in  time  of  need. 

And  so  we  tried  to  make  the  best  of  our  adversities- 
and  of  our  still  imperfect  conditions,  and  despite  some 
heart-heaviness  girded  up  our  loins  for  renewed  effort 
and  an  onward  march.  Though  cast  down  we  were  not 
destroyed.  There  was  a  silver  lining  to  the  cloud  that 
had  cast  its  shadow  upon  us.  Encouragements  there 
were  as  well  as  discouragements.  Many  of  our  interests 
had  been  well  fostered ;  many  of  our  activities  had  been 
fairly  prosperous.  Our  field  culture,  gardening,  haying,, 
etc.,  had  gone  on  to  general  satisfaction.  The  harvest 
had  yielded  us,  if  not  abundant,  yet  satisfactory  returns* 


TOKENS    OF    PROSPERITY.  103 

Our  barns,  our  cellars,  our  larders,  were  by  no  means 
empty.  Improvements  upon  our  domain  had  been  going 
on.  The  dam  with  its  appurtenances  was  approaching 
completion.  The  basement  of  the  mechanic  shop  had 
been  finished  and  the  frame  of  the  superstructure  was  so 
far  advanced  as  to  admit  raising  on  the  27th  of  October, 
which  was  followed  immediately  by  the  enclosing  of  the 
body  of  the  structure  and  the  putting  on  of  the  roof. 
The  building  designed  for  a  school-house  and  printing 
office  was  considerably  under  way.  A  baker  and  a  hat- 
ter had  joined  us  and  commenced  operations  in  their 
respective  callings,  thus  enlarging  the  field  of  our  indus- 
trial activity.  The  general  health  of  members  and  resi- 
dents had  been  good,  though  some  sickness  had  prevailed 
among  the  children  but  not  of  serious  or  alarming  nature. 
No  death  had  occurred  on  our  premises  since  settlement. 
Winter  set  in  at  length  finding  us  comfortably  housed 
and  provided  for,  all  the  more  so  that  its  inmates  were 
somewhat  reduced  in  numbers,  —  the  withdrawals  men- 
tioned having  sensibly  depleted  our  population  and  removed 
the  pressure  in  that  respect.  Soon  came  our  reckoning 
day  with  its  itemized  account  of  the  year's  operations 
and  their  results.  The  Annual  Meeting  was  held  Jan.  4, 
1843,  at  which  the  Executive  Council  submitted  to  their 
constituency  the  following 

ANNUAL  REPORT. 

"  The  Executive  Council  of  Fraternal  Community,  No.  1, 
respectfully  submit  the  following  financial  report:  — 

"The  whole  amount  of  property  on  hand  is:  Consolidated 
Fund,  $4,300.00;  Floating  Fund,  $2,504.40;  Total,  $6,804.40. 
Our  debts  to  members,  over  dues  is  $1,298.85;  leaving  the 
present  value,  $5,505.55.  The  whole  amount  of  Joint-Stock 
invested  and  for  which  Certificates  have  been  issued  is 
$5,600.00,  showing  an  absolute  loss  of  $94.45.  But  this  loss 
would  have  been  $597.54  had  we  not  appraised  our  two  new 
buildings  $503.09  above  their  nomimal  cost.  We  believed 
this  to  be  a  fair  estimate  and  have  therefore  made  it  in  the 


104  THE  HOPEDALE   COMMUNITY. 

confidence  that  future  years  of  ordinary  success  will  justify  us 
in  doing  so. 

"  The  whole  amount  of  labor  employed  has  cost  us  $2,722.62, 
according  to  the  following  items:  Agriculture  and  Animals, 
$739.47;  Health  and  Domestic  Economy,  $999.00;  Manufac- 
tures and  Mechanical  Industry,  $577.00;  Education,  Arts,  and 
Sciences,  $31.92;  Religion,  Morals,  and  Missions,  $78.00;  Hat- 
ting, $74.39;  Printing,  $222.84. 

"  The  profit  and  loss  account  in  the  several  departments  and 
branches  is  as  follows:  Dr.  Incidental  Expenses,  $104.12;  Edu- 
cation, etc.,  $45.77  ;  Tailoring,  $2.51  ;  Health  and  Domestic 
Economy,  $475.24;  Agriculture  and  Animals,  $231.38;  Printing, 
$46.33;  Total,  $905.35.  Cr.  Hatting,  $21.72;  Manufactures  and 
Mechanical  Industry,  $503.09;  Donations,  $111.90;  Religion, 
Morals,  and  Missions,  $45.27;  Practical  Christian,  $50.82;  Fi- 
nance and  Exchange,  $36.00  ;  Cash  in  Treasury,  $42.10;  making 
a  total  of  $810.90.  The  balance  shows  the  amount  of  loss  as 
before  stated,  $94.45. 

"  All  of  which  is  respectfully  submitted  in  behalf  of  Council. 


IN  BALLOU,  Pres't. 
"Hopedale,  Jan.  4,  1843." 

This  was  a  small  showing  for  our  much  vaunted  enter- 
prise, exhibiting  close  calculation  and  leaving  capital  no 
dividend.  But  all  things  considered  the  loss  was  much 
less  than  might  have  been  expected  —  much  less  than  we 
actually  feared.  We  therefore  waived  any  discourage- 
ments the  result  of  our  year's  operations  was  calculated 
to  create  and  set  our  faces  hopefully  and  steadfastly 
towards  the  future.  When  we  considered  how  much  we 
had  to  learn  by  dear  experience  and  anxious  vigils,  the 
theoretic  errors  we  had  to  correct,  and  the  injudicious 
attempt  to  accommodate  and  employ  from  April  to  Octo- 
ber so  many  persons  at  equal  wages,  we  felt  that  we  and 
all  true  friends  of  the  Community  had  reason  to  be  satis- 
fied with  what  had  been  accomplished  and  with  the  con- 
dition in  which  we  found  ourselves  at  the  opening  of  a 
new  year. 


OFFICIAL    SERVANTS   FOR   1843.      °  105 

The  official  servants  chosen  at  this  second  Annual 
Meeting  of  the  Community  were :  ADIN  BALLOU,  Presi- 
dent;  ABBY  H.  PRICE,  Secretary;  EDMUND  PRICE,  Auditor; 
EBENEZER  D.  DRAPER,  Intendant  of  Finance  and  Exchange; 
AMOS  J.  BALLOU,  Intendant  of  Agriculture  and  Animals; 
HENRY  LILLIE,  Intendant  of  Manufactures  and  Mechanical 
Industry;  BUTLER  WILMARTH,  Intendant  of  Health  and 
Domestic  Economy;  DANIEL  S.  WHITNEY,  Intendant  of 
Education,  Arts,  and  Sciences;  WM.  H.  FISH,  Intendant 
of  Religion,  Morals,  and  Missions. 


CHAPTER    IV. 

1843,    1844. 

STEPS   OF  PROGRESS  —  SOCIAL  REFORM  CONFERENCES  — 
NEW  INDUSTRIAL  SCHEME  —  CHEERFUL  OUTLOOK. 

/COMMENCING  on  the  day  following  the  Annual  Meet- 
^  ing,  which  took  place  on  the  4th  of  January,  1843, 
the  present  Chapter  will  outline  the  operations  and  pro- 
gress of  the  Community  under  the  provisions  of  its  modi- 
fied Constitution  during  the  two  succeeding  years.  This 
may  be  done  more  intelligibly  and  satisfactorily  perhaps 
by  a  classified  arrangement  of  the  topics  of  chief  interest 
indicated  in  convenient  order  by  their  respective  titles. 

1.  Domestic  Economy.  Now  that  the  opportunity  was 
opened  to  such  of  our  members  as  might  desire  it  to 
establish  and  live  in  separate  households,  several  families 
that  preferred  to  do  so  and  found  it  possible,  at  once 
began  to  form  plans  for  leaving  the  hitherto  unitary 
domestic  mode  of  life  and  locating  by  themselves  in  the 
the  usual  order  of  the  home.  The  facilities  for  doing 
this  on  the  Community  domain,  however,  were  extremely 
meager  and  unsatisfactory.  But  almost  anything  was 
better  than  the  incommodious  and  crowded  condition 
which  had  been  endured  thus  far  by  a  severe  tax  upon 
human  patience  and  fortitude,  and  the  most  contracted 
and  unpropitious  quarters  were  gladly  accepted.  Bros. 
E.  D.  Draper,  D.  S.  Whitney,  and  Edmund  Price,  whose 
families  were  small,  managed  to  set  up  their  respective 
penates  in  the  new  building  on  Water  Street,  the  school 
and  printing  press  having  been  removed  to  the  mechanic 


ut*K**)7 

OF  THB 


DOMESTIC    CHANGES   MADE. 


shop  then  approaching  completion.  The  ,Old  House  was 
divided  into  three  tenements  ;  one  of  which  was  occupied 
by  Brother  Lillie,  another  by  Brother  Harris,  while  the 
third,  much  the  largest,  sheltered  the  still  existent  Com- 
munity family,  which,  though  greatly  depleted,  was  yet 
of  considerable  size.  There  I  remained,  as  did  also  Bro. 
Amos  J.  Ballou,  with  our  wives  and  children  and  such 
other  members  and  dependents  as  were  not  provided  for 
elsewhere.  There,  too,  all  new  comers  took  up  their 
abode,  and  there  visiting  friends,  inquirers,  etc.,  were 
received  and  entertained  as  time  went  on.  Meanwhile 
two  new  dwelling-houses  were  projected  and  put  in 
process  of  construction  —  my  own  humble  cottage  and  a 
two-story  double  house  belonging  to  A.  J.  Ballou  and 
Edmund  Price.  They  were  able  to  move  into  their  new 
quarters  about  mid-summer  and  I  into  mine  early  in 
September,  where  I  and  my  family  have  ever  since 
resided.  Sr.  C.  P.  Hooton  was  married  to  Elkauah  Taft 
of  Uxbridge,  Feb.  27,  and  soon  after  left  the  premises 
with  her  children.  Vacancies  thus  occurred  from  time  to 
time  in  the  common  household,  but  only  to  be  filled  or 
more  than  filled  by  incoming  members,  probationers,  and 
hired  workmen  needed  to  assist  in  the  erection  of  the 
up-going  buildings.  All  desired  and  aimed  at  a  home  of 
their  own,  and  such  as  were  able  secured  a  half-acre 
house-lot  in  the  Village  Site  to  be  built  upon  as  soon  as 
circumstances  would  permit  Delays  on  the  part  of  these 
were  unavoidable,  yet  three  were  finished  and  taken  pos- 
session of  before  winter  set  in.  Besides  those  mentioned 
was  one  for  Br.  Geo.  W.  Stacy,  in  which  he  resided 
until  his  departure  from  Hopedale,  his  successor  for 
many  years  being  Br.  Almon  Thwing.  Br.  Dr.  Wilniarth 
put  up  the  ell  part  of  his  house,  enabling  him  to  occupy 
it  during  the  succeeding  winter  or  early  spring  in  anticipa- 
tion of  the  completion  of  the  main  structure.  To  answer 
the  call  of  applicants,  A.  J.  Ballou  and  Edmund  Price 


108  THE    HOPEDALE   COMMUNITY. 

fitted  up  a  tenement  each  on  the  second  floor  of  their 
spacious  dwelling  as  soon  as  they  were  fairly  settled  in 
it.  Such  was  the  new  order  of  domestic  life  with  us  — 
separate  families  in  a  compact  neighborhood. 

2.  Industrial  Interests.  There  was  no  general  uniform 
system  adopted  concerning  them.  They  were  all  provided 
for  and  supervised  by  the  Community  under  the  direction 
of  the  proper  Intendant,  and  most  of  different  kinds  of 
business  were  carried  on  through  his  direct  personal  man- 
agement. But  exceptions  were  allowed  in  certain  cases 
out  of  deference  to  individual  enterprise  and  choice, 
abuses  and  dangers  being  guarded  against  by  what  were 
supposed  to  be  adequate  provisions  and  restrictions. 
Nathan  Harris  was  permitted  to  engage  in  carpentry  on 
his  own  account  and  in  that  capacity  erected  by  contract 
the  three  dwellings  heretofore  mentioned.  Printing  was 
done  by  Brother  Stacy,  mainly  at  his  own  discretion,  for 
several  months ;  at  first  in  the  new  Water  street  house  and 
afterwards  at  his  own  home  in  Mendon ;  he  being  paid 
twelve  dollars  per  number  for  bringing  out  The  Practical 
Christian.  Later,  about  the  1st  of  June,  the  press  was 
located  in  an  upper  room  of  the  mechanic  shop,  and 
thenceforth  was  run  as  a  Community  branch  of  industry. 
The  department  of  Agriculture,  which  the  previous  year 
was  managed  under  four  heads,  Farming,  Gardening, 
Orcharding,  and  Stabling,  was  this  year  comprised  in  two 
divisions,  Agriculture  and  Livery.  A  small  amount  of 
traffic  was  carried  on  by  the  Intendant  of  Finance  and 
p]xchange.  The  manufacture  of  hats  was  continued ;  the 
Boot  and  Shoe  business  started,  also  the  making  of 
boxes,  Painting  and  Glazing,  Tin  and  Sheet  Iron  work- 
ing, all  on  a  small  scale  and  all  under  Community 
management.  What  was  called  "  General  Service"  was 
regarded  as  a  distinct  industry  and  had  a  separate 
accounting.  This  covered  my  own  official  and  miscel- 
laneous labors  as  President  of  the  Community,  and  also 


MULTIPLICITY   OF   INDUSTRIES.  100 

those  of  others  similarly  employed  for  the  common  good. 
The  department  of  Religion,  Morals,  and  Missions  in- 
cluded all  the  professional  labors  of  our  ministers  and 
lecturers,  whether  rendered  within  or  without  our  terri- 
torial boundaries.  These  brethren  were  active  during 
most  of  the  year,  on  Sundays  generally  and  occasionally 
during  the  week,  but  their  work  brought  in  little  pecun- 
iary revenue.  The  Practical  Christian  with  its  accom- 
paniments constituted  an  independent  business  enterprise 
and  had  its  own  distinctive  reckoning.  Also  the  depart- 
ments of  Domestic  Economy,  the  chief  interest  of  which 
was  the  maintenance  of  the  combined  household,  and 
Education,  which  concerned  the  proper  schooling  of  our 
children,  of  which  little  was  done  systematically  during 
the  year  under  notice. 

There  was  considerable  complexity,  as  can  be  readily 
seen,  in  our  industrial  management,  and  great  skill  and 
care  were  requisite  to  the  proper  keeping  of  our  account 
books  so  as  to  render  them  at  once  intelligible  and  trust- 
worthy. It  was  perhaps  a  mistake,  it  was  certainly  a 
misfortune,  that  we  felt  ourselves  obliged  to  establish  or 
authorize  so  many  business  undertakings,  but  the  skill, 
capacity,  taste,  and  previous  training  of  our  members- 
were  so  diversified,  and  our  anxiety  to  give  each  and 
every  one  remunerative  employment  at  the  earliest  practi- 
cable date  was  so  intense,  that  we  did  not  feel  at  liberty 
to  limit  the  introduction  of  new  industries  as  we  ought 
to  have  done.  When  a  person  apparently  every  way 
qualified  to  become  a  worthy,  useful  member  of  our  fra- 
ternity proposed  to  join  us,  and,  having  been  accepted,, 
wished  to  establish  a  business  for  which  he  was  well 
equipped  by  natural  aptitude  and  experience ;  a  business 
that  would  enable  himself  and  family  to  be  self-support- 
ing and  furnish  the  opportunity  of  self-support  to  others, 
we  were  quite  ready  to  hear  his  plea  and  yield  to  his 
solicitation,  sometimes  to  our  detriment  and  subsequent 


110  THE   HOPEDALE   COMMUNITY. 

regret  and  grief.  It  was  chiefly  in  this  way  that  our 
industries  multiplied  upon  our  hands  and  that  we  were 
made  subject  to  many  perplexing  problems  which  under 
a  more  reserved  and  cautious  regimen  we  should  have 
escaped.  Our  desire  to  make  as  rapid  progress  as  possi- 
ble and  to  help  as  many  as  possible  to  a  better  life  led 
us  into  many  errors. 

3.  Material  Advancement.  The  mechanic  shop  was 
completed  in  the  early  Spring,  and  the  first  story  and 
basement  were  supplied  with  a  considerable  amount  and 
variety  of  labor-saving  machinery  for  facilitating  work  in 
carpentering,  joinery,  box-making,  and  kindred  callings. 
The  story  above  was  so  partitioned  and  fitted  up  as  to 
afford  tolerable  accommodations  in  its  southern  part  for 
the  printing  press  and  its  accessories,  while  the  northern 
was  made  convenient  and  comfortable  for  school  purposes 
and  for  services  of  public  worship ;  in  which  twofold 
capacity  it  met  our  needs,  in  a  rude  fashion  to  be  sure, 
until  we  were  in  a  condition  to  erect  a  building  for  the 
same  purposes  the  following  year.  In  the  ways  indicated 
the  structure  was  at  once  put  to  use  both  above  and 
below,  and  proved  of  great  value  to  the  Community  in 
many  respects.  Nine  half- acre  lots  were  sold  at  an  early 
day  to  individual  members  of  our  body,  for  which  by  com- 
mon consent  and  mutual  agreement  they  were  to  pay 
$100.00  each  into  the  common  treasury,  without  pausing 
to  estimate  their  comparative  natural  worth.  This  was  a 
good  beginning  in  that  direction  and  an  augury  of  better 
days  ahead. 

During  the  season  very  considerable  and  important  im- 
provements were  made  upon  what  were  collectively  desig- 
nated as  the  Community  barns,  though  one  of  them  was 
used  up  to  the  time  of  our  occupancy  of  the  premises  as 
a  cider  house,  the  other  two  only  having  been  devoted 
to  the  sheltering  of  cattle,  horses,  hay,  grain,  etc.  They 
were  somewhat  remote  from  each  other,  inconveniently 


IMPROVEMENTS    GOING    ON.  Ill 

arranged,  and  in  a  considerably  dilapidated  condition. 
Their  frames,  however,  were  heavy,  firm,  and  strong,  ren- 
dering them  capable  of  being  moved  without  serious  detri- 
ment to  them  or  danger  to  the  movers.  A  basement  cellar 
for  them  was  excavated  at  the  southwest  corner  of  Union 
and  Water  Streets,  diagonally  opposite  the  ancient  farm- 
house of  the  estate,  and  suitable  foundations  were  laid, 
upon  which  they  were  in  due  time  located  in  such  prox- 
imity to  and  connection  with  each  other  as  would  best  sub- 
serve the  several  purposes  for  which  they  were  designed 
and  needed.  They  were  then  put  in  respectable  condition 
externally,  and  so  fitted  up  internally  as  to  contribute  to 
the  comfort  and  convenience  of  whomsoever  might  use 
them,  and  afford  the  proper  protection  and  shelter  for 
the  animals  and  products  of  the  earth  that  might  thence- 
forth be  housed  in  them.  In  their  transformed  condition 
they  presented  a  somewhat  straggling,  unsymmetrical,  inar- 
tistic, and  withal  unattractive  appearance,  but  the  change 
was  a  most  desirable  one,  and  one  fully  justified  by  the 
results  secured.  The  conglomerate  structure  not  only 
supplied  the  immediate  needs  of  the  Community,  but  has 
served  important  uses  through  all  the  intervening  years 
down  to  the  present  time,  and  promises  to  do  the  same 
indefinitely  in  the  time  to  come. 

Mention  should  be  made  in  this  connection  of  what  was 
done  the  same  year  towards  the  construction  of  our  main 
thoroughfare  through  the  village,  now  called  Hopedale 
Street.  It  had  been  laid  out  in  a  northwesterly  and 
southeasterly  direction  in  the  original  survey  of  the  resi- 
dential portion  of  our  territory  without  regard  to  any 
pre-existing  highways,  cutting  across  the  old  tortuous 
Magomiscock  road  near  the  junction  of  Hopedale  and 
Union  Streets,  but  little  had  been  done  towards  making 
it  passable.  It  ran  over  an  uneven  surface,  rocky  and 
considerably  elevated  in  some  places  but  low  and  marshy 
in  others.  Material  excavated  from  the  higher  portions 


112  THE   HOPEDALE    COMMUNITY. 

of  it  was  transferred  to  the  more  depressed  and  wet 
localities,  and  before  winter  set  in  a  tolerably  good 
wagon-way  was  opened  and  a  promising  beginning  made 
of  a  future  excellent  thoroughfare.  People  of  the  pres- 
ent generation  little  dream  of  the  labors  undergone  in 
those  early  days  and  afterward  to  make  the  rough  places 
of  Hopedale  smooth  and  its  uncomely  areas  fair  and 
beautiful. 

An  enterprise  of  still  greater  significance  was  set  on 
foot  early  in  the  year  and  considerably  advanced  before 
its  close,  viz.  :  the  erection  of  a  building  which  should 
serve  the  purposes  of  a  School-house  and  Chapel  for  our 
immediate  and  prospective  needs.  As  early  as  February 
4th,  the  following  editorial  and  prospectus  appeared  in 
The  Practical  Christian,  a  copy  of  which  will  explain  the 
matter. 

"  SCHOOL-HOUSE  AND  CHAPEL. 

"We  are  very  much  in  need  of  a  School-house  and  Chapel 
at  Hopedale.  The  establishment  of  a  good  permanent  Semi- 
nary has  always  been  a  darling  object  with  the  founders  of 
this  Community.  Scarcely  less  necessary  is  a  comfortable 
room  for  our  religious  meetings,  lectures,  etc.  The  time  has 
arrived  when  these  objects  must  be  attempted.  Many  friends 
have  been  advising  us  for  months  to  this  movement  and  have 
assured  us  of  their  readiness  to  lend  a  helping  hand.  The 
Community  is  too  young  and  too  poor  to  carry  out  any  splen- 
did design.  We  must  be  content  for  the  present  with  a  build- 
ing which  will  answer  the  double  purpose  of  School-house  and 
Chapel.  Might  not  such  a  one  be  erected  for  $800  or  $1000? 
We  think  it  might.  And  may  we  not  confidently  appeal  to 
our  friends  in  this  general  region  for  handsome  contributions 
in  money,  materials,  and  labor  towards  the  undertaking?  There 
are  many  who  ardently  desire  to  see  a  good  school  and  con- 
venient house  of  worship  in  this  place.  We  have  drawn  up 
a  paper  for  the  purpose  of  providing  these,  which  we  shall 
circulate  among  those  who,  we  believe,  take  a  friendly  interest 
in  our  general  cause.  In  the  meantime  we  wish  them  to  be 
thinking  upon  the  subject;  and  any  friends  at  a  distance,  who 


PROPOSALS   FOR   A   CHAPEL.  113 

have  the  heart  to  aid  us  by  donations,  will  Jay  us  under  great 
obligations  by  communicating  their  kind  intentions  to  the  editor 
immediately.  Who  will  speak  and  act?  Shall  the  suggestion 
be  taken  up  and  carried  into  effect? 

"  The  following  is  a  copy  of  the  subscription  prospectus 
drawn  up  for  circulation: 

"  PROPOSALS 
'•'•For  the  Erection  of  a  Chapel  and  School-house  at  Hopedale. 

"In  the  name  and  behalf  of  Fraternal  Community,  No.  1, 
Adin  Ballou  proposes  the  erection  of  a  decent  and  commodious 
building  at  Hopedale,  to  be  used  as  a  Chapel  until  a  more 
suitable  one  shall  be  provided,  and  as  a  school-house  perma- 
nently, to  be  under  the  general  charge  and  regulation  of  said 
Community  for  preservation,  proper  use,  and  safe  keeping. 
And  the  said  Ballou,  in  said  name  and  behalf,  proposes  and 
engages  as  follows,  to  wit: 

"  1.  That  the  building  to  be  erected  shall  be  devoted  to 
the  purposes  above  specified,  and  to  no  others  therewith  incon- 
sistent. 

"  2.  That,  as  a  Chapel,  its  seats  shall  be  free  to  all  persons 
of  peaceable  behavior  who  choose  to  attend  religious  meetings 
therein  so  far  as  its  accommodations  may  extend. 

"3.  That  a  respectable  and  well  ordered  school  or  course 
of  useful  instruction  and  discipline,  under  Community  regula- 
tions, shall  be  therein  maintained  for  at  least  three-quarters  of 
every  year. 

"Now,  therefore,  all  persons  friendly  to  the  object  herein 
proposed,  and  willing  to  promote  the  same  by  contribution  of 
money,  materials,  or  labor,  are  respectfully  invited  to  subscribe 
their  names  with  the  amount  of  their  several  offerings.  Said 
subscriptions  shall  be  paid  to  the  said  Adin  Ballou,  to  be 
applied  economically  in  the  name  and  behalf  of  said  Commu- 
nity to  the  purpose  herein  specified." 

In  answer  to  this  appeal  about  $200  were  subscribed 
by  outside  friends,  in  sums  of  from  $12  to  75  cents; 
individual  members  subscribed  over  $140  more,  and  the 
needful  balance  was  guaranteed  by  the  Community  as 
such.  So  ground  was  broken,  a  basement  with  suitable 

8 


114  THE   HOPEDALE   COMMUNITY. 

foundations  for  the  superstructure  prepared,  and  the  frame 
of  an  edifice  26  feet  square,  exclusive  of  an  appropriate 
vestibule  portico  in  front,  raised,  the  intention  being  to 
provide  for  immediate  needs  and  add  to  the  structure  in 
the  rear  as  future  necessity,  convenience,  and  ability 
might  warrant.  The  portico  was  to  be  surmounted  with 
a  tasteful  cupola  and  belfry.  The  project  was  well  under 
way  before  severe  weather  came,  and  made  ready  for 
occupancy  the  ensuing  spring. 

Another  interesting  item  worthy  of  mention  comes  prop- 
erly under  the  present  head.  A  warm  and  generous  per- 
sonal friend  in  Cincinnati.  O.,  Andrew  H.  Ernst,  Esq.,  who 
was  engaged  in  the  Nursery  business  at  Spring  Garden, 
on  the  outskirts  of  that  city,  being  kindly  disposed 
towards  the  Community,  made  us  a  valuable  donation, 
the  receipt  of  which  was  acknowledged  in  our  fortnightly 
publication  of  June  10,  as  follows  : 

"  The  undersigned,  in  behalf  of  Fraternal  Community,  No.  1, 
gratefully  acknowledges  the  receipt  of  325  young  apple  trees, 
carefully  packed  in  four  boxes,  comprising  thirty  choice  vari- 
eties, sent  as  a  donation  by  our  kind  friend  and  brother,  A.  H. 
Ernst  of  Cincinnati,  Ohio.  They  arrived  in  good  condition 

and  promise  to  do  well. 

"  ADIN  BALLOU." 

This  much  prized  gift  was  heralded  by  a  lengthy  epis- 
tle from  the  donor  and  his  estimable  wife,  expressing  a 
most  heartfelt  interest  in  our  endeavor  to  realize  a  true 
Christian  order  of  society,  promising  future  favors  like 
that  now  shown  us,  and  giving  good  practical  advice  in 
regard  to  setting  out  and  caring  for  the  trees.  We  were 
not  in  a  condition  to  make  the  wisest  use  of  them  by 
reason  of  the  unprepared  state  of  the  grounds  where  they 
were  put  and  our  want  of  skill  in  managing  them,  but 
those  properly  attended  to  did  well  and  have  been  pro- 
lific of  good  fruit  unto  this  day.  We  had  ourselves 
started  an  infant  nursery  of  our  own,  comprised  of  an 


RELATIONS   WITH   OTHER   COMMUNITIES.  115 

abundance  of  apple  and  pear  sproutliugs,  and  had  put  a 
thousand  or  more  peach  and  plum  stones  in  the  ground, 
but  as  yet  these  were  of  no  avail  to  us  in  planting 
orchards  or  fitting  up  our  little  homesteads ;  and  hence 
the  kindly  thoughtfuluess  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ernst  at  that 
date  was  all  the  more  timely  and  acceptable. 

4.  Relations  ivith  other  Communities.  As  already  stated, 
several  Communities  or  Co-operative  Associations  besides 
our  own  were  founded  about  the  time  we  located  at 
Hopedale.  Others  were  in  process  of  gestation  merely. 
They  all  differed  from  each  other  very  considerably,  either 
in  organization  or  method  of  administration,  and  they 
were  too  unlike  ours  in  both  respects  to  admit  of  any 
very  close  affiliation.  Yet  our  principles  and  our  polity 
•disposed  us  to  maintain  a  friendly  attitude  towards  them, 
even  towards  those  whose  leading  characteristics  were 
radically  dissimilar  to  ours,  and  whose  controlling  spirits 
were  moved  to  criticize  and  denounce  what  we  deemed 
most  fundamental  in  theory  and  most  vital  to  ultimate 
-success. 

Mention  has  already  been  made  of  the  cordial  feeling 
that  existed  at  Hopedale  towards  Brook-Farm,  the 
Northampton  Community  at  Florence,  both  in  this  State, 
and  the  North  American  Phalanx  in  Monmouth  Co., 
N.  J.,  and  of  the  overtures  looking  towards  a  combina- 
tion of  interests  and  forces  which  were  made  and  seriously 
considered  between  us  and  the  former.  There  were  many 
things  that  were  common  to  us  and  to  all  these  move- 
ments, and  our  intercommunication  with  each  other  was 
tilways  amicable  and  kindly.  Other  movements  there  were 
mostly  in  the  West,  with  which,  though  we  were  much 
interested  in  them  and  wished  them  well,  we  were  less  in 
sympathy,  and  of  which  we  had  less  hope  as  agencies 
for  fraternizing  and  blessing  mankind.  With  the  pro- 
jectors and  apostles  of  some  of  these  I  was  personally 
brought  into  verbal  collision,  as  will  be  seen,  as  will  also 


116  THE   HOPEDALE   COMMUNITY. 

the  occasion  and  ground  of  it,  by  a  brief  account  of 
what  was  called  a  Property  Convention,  held  in  Chardou 
St.  Chapel,  Boston,  on  the  evening  of  June  8.  It  was 
gotten  up  by  John  A.  Collins,  sometime  General  Agent 
of  the  Mass.  Anti-Slavery  Society,  and  a  few  friends 
who  agreed  with  him  in  certain  ideas  which  he  entertained 
respecting  the  rights  of  property  and  the  true  basis  of 
social  reconstruction.  I  was  invited  to  be  present  and 
participate  in  the  debates,  an  invitation  that  I  cheerfully 
accepted.  I  give  a  few  extracts  from  my  report  of  what 
transpired,  published  in  The  Practical  Christian: 

"  Quite  an  audience  convened.  The  meeting  was  addressed 
by  John  O.  Wattles,  Nathaniel  Whiting,  and  John  A.  Collins. 
Friend  Wattles,  an  amiable  and  benevolent  man  from  the 
West,  spoke  in  rather  a  poetic  strain  against  the  evils  of  the 
present  social  state  as  flowing  from  the  assumed  right  of  indi- 
vidual property,  and  painted  in  glowing  colors  the  beauties  of 
that  proposed  social  state  wherein  no  person  should  claim  to 
own  anything;  where  each  individual  should  be  a  perfect  com- 
munity in  himself  and  the  congregated  whole  a  heavenly  com- 
munion of  wisdom,  goodness,  and  enjoyment.  He  took  it  for 
granted  that  the  abolition  of  all  individual  property  would  cer- 
tainly lead  to  these  happy  results,  without  any  very  careful 
analysis  of  facts  or  effort  at  argument.  He  was  too  indefinite 
in  his  speech  to  render  an  answer  pertinent.  Friend  Whiting 
followed  on  the  same  side  in  a  calm  and  candid  style  of 
address,  yet  with  too  little  logical  point  to  elicit  an  interesting 
debate.  By  this  time  it  was  9  o'clock  and  the  people  began 
to  think  of  going  home.  Friend  Collins  called  on  me  to  give 
my  views,  which  I  declined  to  do  until  he  should  state  more 
definitely  the  positions  he  and  his  allies  intended  to  maintain,, 
with  a  few  of  the  more  important  reasons  therefor.  He 
thought  this  had  already  been  done  but  concluded  to  attempt 
a  further  explication.  When  he  had  closed,  I  took  up  the 
subject  and  attempted  to  show  that  individual  property  grew 
directly  out  of  individual  existence,  was  inseparably  connected 
with  it,  and  could  never  be  wholly  abolished  so  long  as  man 
had  a  stomach  which  must  appropriate  food  exclusively  to 


PROPERTY    CONVENTION   AT   BOSTON.  117 

itself,  and  a  body  which  must  have  raiment  exclusively  for 
itself,  or  so  long  as  God  and  nature  decreed  the  union  of  one 
man  and  one  woman  in  marriage,  devolving  upon  them  the 
duty  of  nourishing  and  protecting  their  offspring  through 
helpless  infancy.  That  to  perform  these  duties,  mankind  are 
endowed  with  faculties  and  furnished  with  means,  in  the  right 
use  of  which  by  honest  industry  they  may  ordinarily  avoid 
being  burdensome  to  one  another.  That  he  who  has  produced 
food,  or  raiment,  or  any  other  good  thing  by  such  industry, 
has  a  natural  right  of  property  in  such  production.  That  he 
who  can  produce  the  necessaries  and  comforts  of  life  and  yet 
will  not,  has  no  right  to  consume  the  fruits  of  another's  indus- 
try. That  if  he  claims  any  such  right  he  is  virtually  a  rob- 
ber; but  that  by  the  law  of  universal  benevolence  all  men  are 
bound  to  relieve  the  personal  necessities  of  their  fellow-men 
as  the  dictate  of  charity,  whether  there  be  any  demand  of 
justice  or  not.  That  the  right  of  individual  property  being  a 
natural,  inherent,  and  necessary  one  to  a  greater  or  less  extent, 
the  question  could  not  be,  shall  we  abolish  it?  but  rather, 
what  are  its  proper  limitations  and  uses?  That  we  are  not 
warranted  in  ascribing  all  the  evils  of  society  to  individual 
property,  nor  in  concluding  that  its  abolition  would  necessarily 
do  way  with  these  evils;  such  not  being  the  primary  cause  of 
social  disease,  nor  such  the  remedy.  The  cause  lies  in  the 
heart  of  individual  man,  and  can  never  be  removed  but  by 
•enlightening  the  mind  and  subordinating  the  will  to  right 
moral  principles.  Individuals  do  as  much  to  make  society 
what  it  is,  as  society  does  to  form  the  character  of  individuals. 
Any  reorganization  of  society  which  will  more  directly,  ener- 
getically, and  certainly,  discipline  the  individuals  composing 
it  into  obedience  to  the  dictates  of  right  moral  principle,  is 
desirable  and  will  prove  successful.  But  any  reorganization  of 
society  which  starts  with  the  assumption  that  man  is  a  mere 
•creature  of  circumstances,  or  that  anything  short  of  the  enthrone- 
ment of  right  moral  principle  in  the  individual  mind  will 
secure  human  happiness,  is  both  undesirable  and  impractica- 
ble. And  finally,  I  said,  that  as  the  kind  of  reorganization 
proposed  by  friend  Collins  and  his  coadjutors  is  of  the  latter 
description,  its  fundamental  principles  are  essentially  vicious, 
and  all  experiments  for  its  practical  illustration  must  inevita- 
bly fail." 


118  THE   HOPEDALE   COMMUNITY. 

The  meeting  adjourned  to  the  next  day.  Imperative 
duties  prevented  me  from  being  present  only  at  the  morn- 
ing session.  The  same  general  ground  was  again  trav- 
eled over  by  the  different  speakers,  with  about  the  same 
variety  of  argument  and  conclusion.  At  one  stage  of  the 
discussion,  friend  Collins  undertook  to  explain  the  doc- 
trine of  circumstances  as  he  held  it,  that  being  a  point 
in  his  general  theory  of  social  reform  scarcely  less  import- 
ant and  vital  than  that  of  common  property.  He  affirmed 
with  great  emphasis  that  the  lazy  and  vicious  in  the  world 
at  large  were  only  what  society  made  them,  and  that,  if 
surroundings  were  right,  they  would  be  the  good  and  use- 
ful men  and  women  which  they  ought  to  be  and  which  we 
all  very  much  desired.  As  the  talk  was  somewhat  collo- 
quial, I  asked  him  if  he  was  prepared  to  contend  that  no- 
man  can  behave  better  than  he  does  under  the  present 
condition  of  things  in  social  life.  His  answer  was  that  he 
did  not  wish  to  be  forced  into  the  minutiae  of  the  ques- 
tion and  be  compelled  by  his  argument  to  say  that  no  one 
could  possibly  behave  better  then  he  did  in  any  respect, 
yet  he  would  maintain  as  a  general  affirmation  that  every 
man  is  in  the  main  just  what  society  makes  him  and 
there  he  would  leave  the  matter.  In  this  feature  of  his 
system  he  had  taken  the  position  that  man  is  a  creature 
of  external  circumstances,  and  he  built  his  whole  hope  of 
ameliorating  the  condition  of  the  unfortunate  and  suffer- 
ing classes  of  mankind  and  of  bringing  in  the  era  of  uni- 
versal equality  and  fraternity  on  so  reorganizing  society 
as  to  necessitate  right  action  and  consequent  happiness ; 
on  so  ordering  the  externals  of  life,  the  environing  cir- 
cumstances of  men,  as  that  they  could  not  help  being 
wise,  good,  and  happy.  I  told  him  and  his  brethren  to  go 
ahead  and  live  out  their  theories,  but  I  could  not  accom- 
pany them  though  I  wished  them  well.  They  heeded  my 
counsel,  went  out  to  Central  New  York,  established  the 
Skaueatales  Community,  struggled  along  under  great  diffi- 


CONVENTION  AT  WORCESTER.          119 

culties  for  a  few  years,  and  at  length  yielded  to  fate  and 
went  to  pieces,  the  victims  of  their  own  delusions. 

A  more  congenial  and  gratifying  occasion  was  enjoyed 
later  in  the  season.  It  was  a  Convention  called  by  George 
W.  Benson  and  fourteen  others  to  meet  at  Worcester  on 
the  second  Tuesday  and  Wednesday  of  December,  u  to 
examine  and  discuss  the  propriety  of  reorganizing  society 
into  Associations  or  Communities  in  which  all  may  have 
a  common  interest  in  whatever  appertains  to  a  physical, 
intellectual,  and  moral  culture ;  a  common  interest  in  all 
the  advantages  arising  from  the  production  and  posses- 
sion of  property."  Of  this  gathering  The  Practical  Chris- 
tian said : 

"  Quite  a  number  of  the  members  from  the  Northampton 
and  Hopedale  Communities  were  in  attendance,  besides  volun- 
teer friends  from  various  quarters.  We  had  hoped  to  meet 
delegates  from  West  Roxbury  also;  but  we  believe  none  were 
present  from  that  Association.  The  convention  was  animated 
by  a  good  spirit  and  awakened  an  encouraging  interest  among 
the  common  people  of  the  town.  The  evening  sessions  called 
out  the  best  audiences,  and  we  could  but  admire  the  very 
respectful,  eager,  and  unfaltering  attention  of  those  present  on 
the  last  evening.  At  the  close  notice  was  given  that  Mr.  D. 
II.  Barlow  would  deliver  three  lectures  on  the  subject  during 
the  ensuing  week.  We  hear  that  those  lectures  have  been  well 
attended  and  cannot  doubt  that  they  will  leave  a  strong  and 
salutary  impression.  Another  convention  was  holden  in  Leomin- 
ster  the  same  week  which  we  learn  was  an  interesting  meeting. 
None  of  our  people  were  present." 

A  week  later  a  meeting  was  held  in  Boston  in  response 
to  "A  Call  to  the  Friends  of  Social  Reform  in  New 
England "  issued  by  David  Mack,  George  W.  Benson, 
James  N.  Buff  urn,  Oliver  Johnson,  William  C.  Nell, 
H.  C.  .Wright,  William  Bassett,  and  many  others,  u  to  aid 
the  progress  of  the  great  cause  of  Social  Reorganiza- 
tion " ;  "to  cheer  each  other's  hearts  by  taking  note  of 
the  advance  of  the  Social  Scheme  discovered  by  Charles 


120  THE  HOPEDALE   COMMUNITY. 

Fourier";  and  to  enable  those  "who  believe  that  Asso- 
ciation is  to  succeed  the  conflict  and  isolation  of  our 
present  Social  Order"  and  that  through  it  "Man  will 
achieve  his  destiny  and  our  world  be  purified  from  vice, 
crime,  and  misery,"  "  to  concert  means  to  actualize  their 
idea  and  build  a  Home  on  the  broad  basis  of  Attractive 
Industry — a  Home  where  all  who  love  Truth  and  would 
live  it  may  find  a  refuge." 

As  a.  further  indication  of  the  widespread  interest  in 
the  cause  of  Social  Reconstruction  that  had  been  awak- 
ened in  the  breasts  of  philanthropists  and  reformers  and 
through  them  in  the  general  public  mind,  it  may  be 
stated  that  during  the  year  1843  a  new  Quarterly  Peri- 
odical, entitled  The  Reformer,  or  Advocate  of  Industrial 
Association,  was  started  at  Pittsburg,  Perm.,  designed 
"to  discuss  the  general  principles  which  underlie  the 
movement  for  a  better  order  of  Society,  to  suggest  and 
consider  different  systems  of  organization  and  methods  of 
administration,  to  report  what  was  going  on  in  the  differ- 
ent localities  where  experiments  had  been  undertaken,  to 
note  the  signs  of  progress  that  were  to  be  seen  in  vari- 
ous directions,  and  stimulate  endeavor  in  behalf  of  the 
great  uprising  in  all  possible  ways."  During  the  same 
year  another  publication  —  The  Phalanx  —  was  launched 
upon  the  tide  of  American  Journalism.  It  was  intended 
to  be  the  organ  of  the  Fourier  Associationists  in  the 
United  States, — those  who  were  either  believers  in  or 
students  of  the  plan  of  Social  Reorganization  devised 
or  discovered  by  the  distinguished  French  Philosopher 
and  Reformer,  Charles  Fourier,  of  whom  Horace  Greeley 
and  Parke  Godwin  of  New  York  were  noted  disciples,  and 
Albert  Brisbane  of  Philadelphia  a  distinguished  represen- 
tative and  interpreter.  Rev.  Wm.  H.  Charming  of  Bos- 
ton, nephew  of  the  renowned  Rev.  William  Ellery 
Channing,  D.  D.,  was  also  a  devoted  follower  of  Fourier 
and  an  eloquent  expounder  of  his  system. 


RELIGIOUS   AND   MISSIONARY   MATTERS.  121 

All  these  things  were  not  only  for  our  edification  but 
for  our  encouragement,  and  we  made  the  most  we  could 
of  them  in  both  particulars.  We  were  desirous  of  learning 
all  we  could  of  other  theorists  and  experimenters  in  order 
to  make  our  progress  more  rapid  and  sure,  and  we  cer- 
tainly took  heart  and  hope  at  every  indication  which  we 
saw  or  thought  we  saw  in  any  direction  that  the  old 
order  of  human  life  was  passing  away  and  a  new  order 
was  coming  in  —  that  the  kingdom  of  righteousness,  broth- 
erhood, unity,  peace,  which  is  the  kingdom  of  heaven,  was 
at  hand.  So  we  girded  the  loins  of  our  strength  about 
us,  became  inspired  with  fresh  zeal,  and  pressed  forward 
toward  the  mark  for  the  prize  of  our  high  calling. 

5.  Reliijious  and  Missionary  Matters.  Within  the 
Community  regular  meetings  for  public  worship  on  Sun- 
day were  maintained  morning  and  afternoon,  without 
intermission  or  relaxation  of  interest  and  fervor,  in  the 
northerly  upper  half  of  the  mechanic  shop.  Likewise  the 
established  Thursday  evening  Conference,  usually,  for  con- 
venience and  economy's  sake,  in  the  old  house.  If  our 
ministerial  brethren  were  engaged  elsewhere,  the  exercises 
at  both  places  were  conducted  by  laymen  and -women,  of 
whom  we  had  several  qualified  to  serve  in  that  capacity 
efficiently  and  acceptably.  In  those  days  there  were 
among  us  few  stay-at-homes  or  iudiffereutists.  It  was  the 
joy  and  the  security  of  our  people  that  they  were  domi- 
nated largely  by  the  religious  sentiment,  —  that  the  relig- 
ious life  had  been  awakened  in  their  souls,  that  the 
religious  motive  influenced  their  conduct  and  shaped  their 
character,  and  that  religious  exercises  —  singing,  prayer, 
instruction,  counsel,  exhortation  —  were  sources  of  satisfac- 
tion and  enjoyment  to  them.  Outside  of  our  boundaries, 
our  preachers  and  lecturers  labored  vigorously ;  seldom, 
however,  going  more  than  thirty  or  forty  miles  from 
home.  Rarely  did  a  Sunday  pass  by  without  an  engage- 
ment in  some  church,  hall,  or  school-house, '  and  often 


122  THE   HOPEDALE   COMMUNITY. 

during  the  week  were  they  in  attendance  upon  some  gen- 
eral public  convocation  or  conducting  the  service  in  some 
gathering  where  they  were  the  chief  if  not  the  only  speak- 
ers respectively.  Quarterly  Conferences  of  sterling  inter- 
est and  of  unquestioned  profit  continued  to  take  place  in 
various  localities,  as  aforetime.  The  Anti-Slavery,  Tem- 
perance, and  Non-resistance  reforms,  enlisted  much  atten- 
tion and  effort  on  our  part,  and  called  us  frequently  into 
the  general  field  throughout  our  vicinage  and  sometimes 
far  away.  Moreover,  this  was  the  year  of  the  great 
Millerite  excitement,  under  which  many  were  looking  for 
the  speedy  coming  of  Christ  in  the  clouds  of  heaven  and 
the  accompanying  end  of  the  world,  and  I  was  personally 
drawn  into  several  public  discussions  upon  the  subject  as 
I  was  also  led  to  prepare  and  publish  a  large  leafed 
pamphlet  of  32  pages,  entitled  The  True  Scriptural  Doc- 
trine of  the  Second  Advent,  an  Effectual  Antidote  to  'Mil- 
lerism  and  all  Kindred  Errors.  It  was  issued  from  the 
Community  press  and  was  widely  called  for  up  to  the 
time  of  the  bursting  of  the  bubble  in  October,  when  all 
concern  and  interest  in  the  subject  suddenly  subsided. 
The  Practical  Christian  went  forth  from  the  printing  office 
regularly  on  its  mission  to  its  readers  at  home  and 
abroad,  its  columns  well  filled  with  interesting  articles 
upon  topics  it  was  wont  to  discuss,  myself  being  Editor- 
in-Chief,  with  Bros.  Stacy,  Whitney,  and  Fish,  Assistants. 
6.  Other  Incidents.  There  was  little  sickness  with  no 
fatal  or  serious  cases  on  the  Community  domain  during  the 
entire  twelvemonth.  A  single  death  occurred  among  our 
non-resident  members,  that  of  Mrs.  Barbara  Colburn,  wife 
of  Samuel  Colburn,  at  Dedham,  where  they  were  tempo- 
rarily residing.  Few  new  members  joined  us,  owing  largely 
to  the  doubt  and  distrust  engendered  by  the  withdrawals 
of  the  previous  autumn.  The  places  vacated  at  that  time- 
were  slowly  filled.  Several  probationers  entered  our  pre- 
cincts and  three  or  four  families  of  permitted  residents. 


DEPREDATION  BY   LAWLESS   OUTSIDERS.  12& 

The  first  a«d  only  depredation  that  for  some  years  was 
committed  by  lawless  outsiders  on  Community  property 
occurred,  if  my  memory  is  not  at  fault,  during  the 
autumn  of  1843.  A  gang  of  hen-roost  robbers  that  had 
prowled  about  Milford  and  vicinity  for  some  mouths, 
seizing  poultry  and  carrying  it  away  to  some  secluded 
place  for  a  nightly  feast,  visited  us  and  took  a  turkey 
and  two  chickens  that  they  found  on  the  branches  of 
one  of  our  old  apple  trees.  I  think  they  dug  a  few  hills 
of  potatoes  to  roast  as  a  part  of  their  surreptitious  bill 
of  fare.  It  had  been  predicted  by  our  enemies  that,  by 
reason  of  our  well-known  Non-resistant  principles  and  our 
published  pledge  not  to  prosecute  offenders  and  bring 
them  before  the  courts,  we  should  be  the  victims  of  fre- 
quent burglaries  and  other  offences ;  in  fact,  that  nothing 
of  ours  would  be  safe  from  the  ravages  and  spoliation  of 
the  mischievous  and  criminal  classes  around  us.  Experi- 
ence proved  the  reverse  of  this,  as  we  had  confidently 
argued  beforehand.  We  made  no  ado  about  this  act  of 
petty  larceny,  but  learned  that  two  of  the  offenders  were 
overheard  talking  upon  the  matter  not  long  afterward,  the 
gist  of  their  conversation  being  that  while  they  did  not 
care  for  those  who  kept  dogs,  set  traps,  and  were  ready 
to  send  them  to  jail  if  they  could  be  caught,  it  was  too 
bad  to  steal  from  the  kind,  peaceable  people  in  the  Dale, 
and  they  should  not  do  it  again. 

Two  birthdays  were  celebrated  during  the  year  under 
notice,  some  account  of  which  will  give  a  fairly  intelli- 
gible idea  of  those  festal  occasions  which  were  observed 
from  time  to  time  among  us,  serving  to  relieve  the  tedium 
and  tiresome  drudgery  and  nerve-strain  of  our  common  life. 
They  were  not  characterized  by  much  display  but  were 
full  of  good  cheer  and  innocent  pleasure.  The  first  was 
my  own,  and  was  described  by  Sr.  Abby  H.  Price,  who 
wielded  a  facile  pen  and  who  was  a  sort  of  poet-laureate 
to  the  Community  for  several  years,  in  The  Practical 
Christian  of  April  29th.  The  article  is  subjoined : 


124  THE   HOPEDALE   COMMUNITY. 

"Sunday,  April  23d,  was  Brother  Ballou's  4.0th  birthday. 
The  evening  celebration  was  a  happy  time  for  Hopedale.  Not 
with  the  festival  and  dance,  not  with  merriment  and  feasting, 
but  with  one  spontaneous  feeling  of  grateful  and  fervent  con- 
gratulation did  the  friends  and  associates  gather  around  him. 
The  communion  of  soul  that  we  enjoyed  was  sweet.  It  was  a 
bright  oasis  in  the  desert  of  earth.  The  full  feelings  of  affec- 
tionate confidence  that  gushed  forth  must  have  been  as  cheer- 
ing as  the  union  —  the  assurance  we  all  realized  that  we  were 
indeed  of  one  heart  and  one  mind  —  was  to  us.  May  our 
brother  be  spared  to  carry  forward  the  enterprise  so  happily 
begun.  May  we  be  refreshed  by  many  such  birthday  seasons, 
—  the  harp  that  is  then  tuned  be  ever  as  harmonious  till  its 
numbers  swell  on  the  eternal  shore.  The  following  hymn, 
written  for  the  occasion,  was  sung  with  enthusiasm: 

"  Sing,  Hopedale,  sing  !    your  voices  raise, 
Let  every  heart  attuned  to  praise 

Sound  forth  the  cheerful  lay; 
Praise  God  who  gave  our  brother  dear  — 
Who  spares  his  life  from  year  to  year 

To  cheer  us  on  our  way. 

"United  let  our  songs  arise 
In  grateful  accents  to  the  skies  — 

To  God's  almighty  love; 
He  gave  our  friend  the  power  to  bless, 
He  turned  his  heart  to  righteousness, 

And  raised  his  hopes  above. 

"While  passions  raged  and  sin  was  rife, 
When  earth  was  filled  with  war  and  strife, 

He  sought  a  better  way; 
His  panting  spirit  sighed  for  peace, 
From  all  the  crimes  of  earth  release  — 
Sighed  for  a  perfect  day. 

"No  flag  was  raised,  no  banner  streamed, 
The  light  through  fog  and  darkness  gleamed  — 

Weak  were  true  souls  and  sad; 
In  this  sweet  vale  he  found  a  place, 
The  standard  raised  of  truth  and  grace 

To  make  the  nations  glad. 


BIRTHDAY   ANNIVERSARIES.  125 


"  Now  let  these  trees  luxuriant  grow, 
Let  this  sweet  stream  more  sweetly  flow ; 

A  work  is  here  begun 
We  trust  will  bless  earth's  distant  shore 
Till  war  and  sin  are  known  no  more, 

And  Satan's  work  is  done." 

Another  record  of  a  similar  event  which  occurred  a 
few  weeks  later  was  from  the  same  pen. 

"  Last  Wednesday,  June  14th,  was  Brother  Draper's  birthday. 
The  meeting  in  the  evening  was  pleasant  and  we  trust  profit- 
able. How  much  it  becomes  us  on  such  occasions  to  look 
back  in  solemn  reflection  upon  our  past  lives ;  to  let  the  bitter 
tears  of  penitence  wash  away  every  trace  of  our  wandering 
from  the  straight  path;  and  although  shadows  and  fear  may 
gather  around  us  as  we  see  our  winding  way  through  the 
wilderness,  yet  the  kind  encouragement  of  friends  and  new 
resolutions  for  the  future  may  in  a  measure  dispel  our  sorrow, 
and  refreshed  and  invigorated  we  may  begin  anew  the  journey 
of  life.  The  following  was  one  of  the  hymns  written  for  and 
sung  on  the  occasion  : 

"How  sweet  our  birthdays  are 

When  spent  with  those  we  love, 
Kind  words  like  sunbeams  fair 
Make  all  our  gloom  remove, 
And  love  for  friends  so  true  and  strong, 
Will  cheer  our  pathway  all  along. 

"Then  let  us  all  unite 

To  pray  that  this  new  year 
May  shed  a  halo  bright 

Around  our  brother  dear; 
That  still  in  grace  he  may  improve, 
And  ever  onward  humbly  move. 

"  And  when  his  days  shall  end, 

And  he  have  done  with  time, 
Find  God  a  smiling  friend  — 

Bliss  in  a  holier  clime; 
Join  with  the  bright  celestial  choirs 
Where  angels  tune  immortal  lyres." 


126  THE   HOPEDALE   COMMUNITY. 

Financial  Summary  of  1843.  Reaching  the  close  of 
the  year,  the  Community  listened  with  much  interest  and 
satisfaction  to  the  Report  of  the  Council  made  at  its 
Annual  Meeting,  Jan.  3,  1844.  Without  going  into 
details  as  before  and  itemizing  the  several  departments 
representing  industrial  and  monetary  interests  it  may  be 
sufficient  to  state  that  the  Joint-Stock  property  amounted, 
in  the  two  funds  representing  it,  to  $6258.19  above  all 
indebtedness ;  and  that,  besides  cancelling  the  old  deficit 
of  $94.45  there  had  accrued  net  profits  estimated  at 
$658.19,  making  the  entire  gain  arising  from  the  year's 
operations,  $752.64.  The  individual  property  of  the  mem- 
bers invested  in  house  lots,  dwellings,  business,  etc.,  on 
the  domain,  never  appeared  in  the  Summary  of  Commu- 
nity affairs,  nor  was  any  statement  ever  made  of  their 
gains  or  losses.  The  yearly  exhibit  included  only  what 
had  been  done  by  the  Community  as  such  in  its  strictly 
unitary  character,  and  the  results  thereof. 

Provision  was  made  for  the  funds  that  might  be  required 
in  carrying  on  the  several  departments  of  business  for 
the  year  to  come  and  for  meeting  all  pecuniary  obliga- 
tions, by  instructing  the  Executive  Council  to  raise  by 
an  equitable  method  of  taxation  such  sums  of  money  as 
in  their  judgment  would  be  required,  and  direct  the 
expenditure  of  the  same. 

The  following  named  official  servants  were  chosen  to 
fill  the  positions  respectively  indicated  the  ensuing  year : 
ADIN  BALLOU,  Pres. ;  ABBY  H.  PRICE,  Sec.;  EBENEZER 
D.  DRAPER,  Intendant  of  Finance  and  Exchange;  AMOS 
J.  BALLOU,  of  Agriculture  and  Animals;  EDMUND  SOWARD, 
of  Manufactures  and  Mechanical  Industries;  DR.  BUTLER 
WILMARTH,  of  Health  and  Domestic  Economy;  D.  S. 
WHITNEY,  of  Education,  Arts,  and  Sciences;  WM.  H. 
FISH,  of  Religion,  Morals,  and  Missions. 

The  meeting  was  a  harmonious,  enthusiastic,  and  highly 
gratifying  one  in  all  respects ;  far  different  from  that  of 


AUSPICIOUS   CONDITION   AND   PROSPECTS.  127 

41  year  before,  when  a  cloud  of  uncertainty  and  fear  hung 
over  our  deliberations,  and  cast  a  dark  and  depressing 
shadow  upon  all  our  hearts.  Now  the  skies  were  bright 
above  us,  the  future  seemed  full  of  promise,  and  we  were 
ready  to  press  joyfully  onward  in  our  great  and  benefi- 
cent work.  The  prevailing  feeling  on  the  occasion  found 
expression  in  a  stirring  hymn  sung  with  much  earnestness 
and  exultant  joy,  a  single  verse  of  which  will  convey  a 
good  idea  of  the  spirit  animating  the  whole  : 

"Where  are  the  dangers  and  quicksands  we  feared? 

All  by  his  (God's)  grace  were  removed; 
Where  are  the  mountains  our  enemies  reared? 

Transient  as  mist  they  have  proved. 
Now  on  the  sky  see  the  rainbow  of  hope, 

Now  let  the  brother  desponding  look  up, 
Soon  will  our  temple  its  pearly  gates  ope, 

People  come  in  and  be  glad." 

Affairs  in  1844.  The  general  order  and  management 
of  Community  affairs  during  the  year  named  continued 
substantially  the  same  as  they  had  been  the  twelvemonth 
before,  though  the  tendency  was  to  discountenance  indi- 
vidualism in  conducting  business,  and  bring  everything  of 
that  nature  more  and  more  within  the  sweep  of  Joint- 
Stock  industrial  operations.  This  policy  was  not  univer- 
sally acceptable,  and  one  of  our  early  members,  Nathan 
Harris,  resigned  his  membership  and  erected  himself  a 
residence  just  outside  the  boundaries  of  our  estate,  on  the 
northerly  road  to  Milford.  His  wife,  however,  retained 
her  connection  with  us,  and  our  relations  with  him  con- 
tinued cordial  and  friendly  to  the  time  of  his  death  five 
years  afterward.  The  Executive  Council  held  weekly 
meetings  with  infrequent  interruptions,  being  intrusted 
with  large  powers  and  weighty  responsibilities  as  mana- 
gers of  the  industrial  interests  of  the  Association,  the 
duties  of  which  they  discharged  with  untiring  watch- 
fulness, diligence,  and  vigor.  Measures  beyond  their 


128  THE   IIOPEDALE   COMMUNITY. 

authority,  yet  deemed  essential  to  the  common  welfare, 
were  recommended  by  them  to  their  constituents,  and,  for 
the  most  part,  promptly  sanctioned  agreeably  to  consti- 
tutional requirements,  thus  becoming  an  integral  part  of 
oar  established  economy. 

Principal  Events.  1.  The  village  site  was  more  com- 
pletely defined  as  to  its  boundaries,  thoroughfares,  public 
squares,  etc.  The  names  of  streets  and  the  designation 
of  house- lots  were  determined  upon,  and  a  plan  of  the 
whole  was  drawn,  properly  representing  the  same,  in 
accordance  with  which  prescribed  titles  of  conveyance 
should  be  made  and  recorded.  This  was  done  pursuant 
to  a  vote  of  the  Council,  passed  March  18th,  as  follows: 

"Voted,  (1)  To  name  the  Streets  of  the  Village  Site  prepara- 
tory to  drafting  a  |plan  of  the  same.  The  following  names 
were  severally  proposed  and  adopted,  viz.:  For  the  Street 
nearest  the  water  privileges  running  from  the  horse-barn  to 
the  old  dam,  two  rods  wide,  Water  Street;  for  the  next  parallel 
Street  east,  running  from  Geo.  W.  Stacy's  house  by  the  school- 
house,  three  rods  wide,  Main  Street;  for  the  next  parallel 
Street  east,  two  rods  wide,  High  Street;  for  the  Street  running 
from  road  to  road  across  the  old  dam,  or  across  the  intended 
new  dam,  a  little  above  the  old  one,  'Freedom  Street.  [The  old 
road  came  down  the  hill  from  the  northerly  part  of  Mendon 
till  it  approached  the  river  near  the  former  dam,  then  by  a 
sudden  turn  south  swept  downward  around  the  front  of  the 
farm-house,  thence  northeasterly  up  the  hill  to  the  Scammell 
place  on  the  Upton  highway.  Hence  the  phrase  "from  road 
to  road"  indicates  a  line  forming  a  base  to  said  bend.]  For 
the  next  cross  Street  south,  passing  in  front  of  the  Chapel 
Site  [where  the  public  school-house  now  stands]  arid  north  of 
the  intended  square,  Chapel  Street.  [  This  intended  square  was 
subsequently  superseded  by  the  one  on  which  the  Hopedale 
(Unitarian)  House  of  Worship  is  now  located.]  For  the  next 
cross  Street  south,  passing  over  the  new  dam  by  the  mechanic 
shop  and  south  of  the  square,  Social  Street;  for  the  next  cross 
Street  south,  passing  in  front  of  the  old  house  and  by  A.  J. 
Ballou's,  Union  Street:  for  the  next  cross  Street  south,  passing 
by  Adin  Ballou's  house,  Peace  Street;  for  the  next  cross  Street- 


ENLARGEMENT  OF   COMMUNITY   DOMAIN.  129 

^V 

south,  passing  by  Geo.  W.  Stacy's  house,  Hope  Street.     [These 
cross  streets  were  all  two  rods  wide.] 

"Voted,  (2)  That    Adin    Ballou   be   a   Committee  to  number 
the  lots  and  draft  a  Plan  of  the  Village." 

2.  An  important  transaction  of  the  year  was  the  pur- 
chase, through    authorized    agents,    of    several   parcels    of 
laud  whereby  the   Community  domain  was  very  consider- 
ably enlarged  in  extent  and  enhanced  in  value.     The  first 
of    these    was    mostly    woodland    adjoining    the    original 
Jones'  farm   on   the   northwest.     It   formerly  belonged    to 
Seth   Davenport   and   was   bought   of    his    sons.     It   con- 
tained  about   nineteen   acres   for  which  we  paid   $362.38. 
The  second  piece  was   a   detached   lot    of  woodland   con- 
taining  six    and    a   quarter   acres    lying    on    the   westerly 
slope  of  Magomiscock  Hill,  purchased  of  Dana  Perry  for 
$270.00.     The  third  and  much  the  most   important   tract 
was  the  Amos  Cook  farm  of  108  acres  lying  directly  south 
of  and  contiguous  to  our  territory  with  an  outlying  wood 
lot  of   twenty  three  and  a  half  acres,  for  which  we  paid 
$3000.     In   order   to   make   these    new  investments,  more 
money  had  to  be  borrowed  and  secured  by  personal  credit 
and  mortgage.     Our  landed  property  was   thus    expanded 
more  rapidly  than  our  needs  and  pecuniary  ability  at  the 
time  would  warrant. 

3.  Four  new  cottages  were  erected  in  1844;    those  of 
E.   D.   Draper,  Butler  Wilmarth,  Daniel   S.  Whitney,   andl 
Henry  Fish.     Several  additional  lots  were  taken   up    and 
preparation   for   building   on   them    the    next    season   was. 
commenced.     The  School  and   Chapel   building  was   com- 
pleted, having  one  large  room  and  two  ante-rooms  on  the 
main  floor   with  a   basement   suitable    for    a   small   store.. 
The  school  and    assemblies    for  worship  were   transferred 
to  their  new  quarters   in   April,   and  soon   after  the   room 
below  was  stocked  with  groceries  and  dry  goods   for   the 
common  convenience   by  the   Community  authorities.     An 
old  corn-house  was   removed    to   Water   Street,    extempo- 

9 


130  THE   HOPEDALE   COMMUNITY. 

rized  into  a  blacksmith  shop,  and  supplied  with  the 
necessary  equipment.  A  lead  pipe  aqueduct  was  laid 
from  a  reservoir  on  the  northerly  high  land  of  our  terri- 
tory, a  fourth  of  a  mile  away,  into  our  young  village,  for 
sundry  public  and  private  uses.  The  streets  were  con- 
siderably improved  and  the  general  external  condition  of 
our  little  settlement  assumed  a  more  orderly,  refined,  and 
attractive  appearance. 

4.  The  School  for  several  months  of   the  year  was  in 
charge  of  Br.  Daniel  S.  Whitney  aud  during  the  remain- 
der, of  Sr.  Mary  Jackmau,  who  became  the  wife  of  Br. 
Samuel  Colburn  ou  the  23d  of  June,  their  marriage  being 
the  first  one  solemnized  in  the  new    Chapel  and  hence    a 
somewhat    notable    event.     A    committee    of    two,    Butler 
Wilmarth    and    Edmund    Soward,    under   the    direction    of 
•the  Intendant  of  Education,  was    appointed   to   have   the 
general   oversight    of    school    affairs,    furnish   needed  sup- 
plies, provide  teachers,  examine    classes,  see    that   proper 
discipline  was    exercised,   etc.     Some  difficulty  was  expe- 
rienced in  adjusting   the  hours  of  juvenile  labor,  tuition, 
and  recreation,  as  well  as  in  maintaining  salutary  govern- 
ment over  our  heterogeneous  brood.     We  might  have  sent 
our  children   and  youth    to   the   public   district    school    of 
the  town  of   Milford,  for   the    support  of  which  we  were 
obliged  to  pay  our  due  share  by  legal  taxation.     But  we 
aspired  to  something  better  at  our  own  additional  expense ; 
besides,  the  public  school-house  was  too  far  away  and  too 
small  for   our    accommodation.     We    petitioned   the   town 
to   be    set   off    as    a    new  district,  but    satisfactory    terms 
•could  not   be    arranged    and   the    matter   went   over   to    a 
later  day. 

5.  Our   promulgatory  and    missionary  operations   went 
forward  in  all  directions  with  unabated  activity  without  in 
any  wise  restricting  or   neglecting    the  established   means 
and    facilities    for    moral    and    religious    instruction    and 
quickening  within  our  own  borders.      The  Practical  Chris- 


ASSOCIATIONAL   CONFERENCES. 

tian  and  our  several  preachers  proclaimed  their  testi- 
monies in  all  the  old  and  in  some  new  localities.  The 
claims  upon  us  of  all  the  great  moral  reforms,  as  well 
as  of  our  own  distinctive  Practical  Christianity,  sum- 
moned all  our  energies  forth  and  put  them  to  active 
aud  unremittaut  service.  We  had  more  irons  in  the  fire 
than  we  were  able  to  handle  to  advantage.  And  yet  we 
were  induced  towards  the  close  of  the  year  to  undertake 
the  resuscitation  of  the  suspended  Non- Resistant,  the 
organ  of  the  New  England  Non-resistance  Society.  It 
was  not  a  wise  thing  for  us  to  do,  as  it  increased  to  no 
little  extent  our  burdens  without  contributing  correspond- 
ingly to  the  advancement  of  the  cause.  The  effort  was 
:in  a  line  with  much  of  our  experience.  Our  ambition  to 
disseminate  the  truth  as  it  had  been  made  known  to  us 
and  to  aid  in  emancipating  our  fellow-men  from  the  evils 
and  disabilities  under  which  they  suffered,  was  continu- 
ally outrunning  our  ability  and  means  of  accomplishment. 
So  we  had  to  live  and  learn,  and  yet  in  this  particular 
we  learned  but  slowly. 

6.  Our  interest  in  social  reorganization  and  our  friendly 
intercommunication  with  other  laborers  in  the  same  field 
suffered  no  decline  as  the  months  went  by.  We  watched 
what  was  going  on  in  different  localities  under  the  direc- 
tion of  various  experimenters  with  sleepless  eye,  studied 
their  systems  and  methods  in  so  far  as  they  were  at  vari- 
ance with  ours,  and  occasionally  met  with  those  theoreti- 
cally and  practically  engaged  in  attempts  to  solve  the 
same  great  problem  which  was  so  dear  to  our  hearts  and 
was  taxing  so  severely  our  mental,  moral,  and  physical 
energies  and  resources.  We  were  represented  in  two  or 
three  Conventions  of  Associationists  during  the  year. 
Of  one  of  them  the  following  notice  appeared  in  our 
paper : 

"  ASSOCIATIONAL  CONFERENCE. 

"In  accordance  with  an  arrangement  made  last  winter  in 
Boston  a  Conference  consisting  of  two  delegates  from  each  of 


132  THE  HOPEDALE   COMMUNITY. 

the  three  Associations  in  Mass.,  viz. :  —  Northampton,  Brook 
Farm,  and  Hopedale,  met  at  Hopedale  on  the  24th  ult.  (May)^ 
Present  the  following  delegates:  —  Brook  Farm,  George  Ripley 
and  Ephraim  Capen;  Northampton,  James  Boyle  and  Josiah 
Hay  ward;  Hopedale,  Adin  Ballou  and  Butler  Wilmarth.  The 
object  of  this  Conference  was  the  promotion  of  a  friendly 
intercourse  between  the  several  Associations  and  a  careful 
inquiry  into  the  practical  working  of  their  respective  internal 
economies  with  a  view  to  mutual  correction  and  improvement. 
These  Associations  differ  widely  in  some  respects  and  are  per- 
fectly independent  of  each  other.  It  is  not  intended  to  bring 
them  into  any  organic  compact,  but,  by  means  of  these  friendly 
Conferences  holden  three  times  a  year  at  each  location  in  suc- 
cession, to  maintain  a  good  understanding,  and  especially  to 
enable  all  of  them  to  profit  by  a  mutual  comparison  of  merits 
and  defects.  The  delegates  and  volunteers  met  at  9  A.  M. 
and  proceeded  to  institute  a  close  inquiry  into  the  statistics, 
resources,  industrial  arrangements,  methods  of  education,  and 
particular  operations  of  the  three  Associations,  whereof  minutes 
were  taken  for  preservation  and  future  use.  Interesting  state- 
ments and  remarks  were  made  by  George  Ripley,  James  Boyle, 
and  others,  unfolding  the  peculiar  organization  and  workings 
of  the  Brook  Farm  and  the  Northampton  Associations.  The 
Conference  throughout  was  very  pleasant  and  profitable.  Prob- 
ably more  solid  practical  instruction  was  interchanged  than 
the  inexperienced  could  acquire  from  a  hundred  theoretic 
lectures." 

The  next  meeting  of  these  three  bodies  was  held  at 
Broughton  Meadows  (now  Florence),  Northampton,  Mass., 
on  the  31st  of  August.  The  call  for  it  was  issued  by 
the  officers  of  the  Community  located  there,  the  organic 
name  of  which  was  "  Northampton  Association  of  Edu- 
cation and  Industry,"  and  was  addressed  "To  the  Friends 
of  a  Reorganization  of  Society  that  shall  Substitute  Fra- 
ternal Co-operation  for  Antagonistic  Selfishness;  a  Relig- 
ious Consecration  of  Life  and  Labor,  Soul  and  Body, 
Time  and  Eternity,  in  Harmony  with  the  Laws  of  God 
and  of  Life,  instead  of  Fragmentary,  Spasmodic  Piety." 
This  call  was  published  widely  in  reformatory  journals 


NORTHAMPTON  ASSOCIATION.  133 

and  brought  together  a  large  company  of  the  friends  of 
Truth  and  Humanity.  A  few  extracts  from  the  account 
of  the  meeting  in  The  Practical  Christian  given  under 
the  heading  of  "Northampton  Association"  will  indicate 
its  character : 

"Br.  E.  D.  Draper  and  myself  (Adin  Ballou)  as  Delegates 
from  Hopedale  to  the  Associational  Conference  at  that  place, 
reached  our  destination  about  noon  of  Aug.  30th,  and  were 
most  cordially  welcomed  by  generous  friends  who  did  all  in 
their  power  to  render  our  visit  refreshing  and  pleasant.  We 
were  conducted  over  the  fields,  meadows,  and  various  industrial 
•establishments  of  the  Domain,  which  exhibited  great  natural 
^capabilities  and  many  creditable  improvements."  "  They  have 
much  excellent  land  and  a  capital  water  privilege.  We  had 
;small  opportunity  to  get  acquainted  with  the  Associates  indi- 
vidually, but  we  were  abundantly  confirmed  in  our  previous 
opinion  that  they  have  among  them  many  high-souled,  pure 
principled,  generous  men  and  women.  They  have  had  many 
trials  to  encounter,  and  like  other  Associations  no  doubt  have 
•committed  some  errors  by  which  to  profit  in  the  future.  May 
they  struggle  through  every  difficulty  and  from  the  mount  of 
ultimate  triumph  pour  down  abundant  blessings  on  humanity." 
"  The  Convention  of  Saturday  and  Sunday  abounded  with 
most  important  and  animated  discussions.  A  Mr.  Rykeman 
from  Brook  Farm  ably  represented  and  defended  the  Fourier 
system;  Henry  Clapp,  Jr.,  of  Lynn,  the  anti-organization  and 
anti-moral-test  doctrine ;  while  Wm.  Loyd  Garrison  and  the 
writer  of  this  notice  earnestly  contended  that  no  Association 
oould  ultimately  prosper  without  making  the  fundamental 
principles  of  practical  Christianity  the  test  of  action,  charac- 
ter and  fellowship." 

Individualism  Checked.  By  the  changes  made  in  our 
Constitution  near  the  close  of  1842  much  larger  privileges 
were  granted  to  members  in  the  way  of  owning  their  own 
houses,  carrying  on  business,  and  acting  generally  on 
their  own  account  without  being  held  amenable  to  Com- 
munity authority,  than  were  allowed  previously  under  our 
original  compact.  The  experiences  of  1843  and  1844. 


134  THE   HOPED  ALE   COMMUNITY. 

however,  did  not  wholly  justify  our  course  at  that  time 
and  so  a  reaction  came  before  the  expiration  of  the  last 
named  year.  I  was  myself  obliged  to  confess  that  in 
trying  to  shun  Scylla  we  had  steered  the  ship  dangerously 
near  Charybdis.  The  difficulty  lay  in  the  sad  fact  that  too 
many  of  us  were  insufficiently  disciplined  in  our  acknowl- 
edged principles  of  Practical  Christian  wisdom  and  right- 
eousness. Hence  if  we  communitized  very  strongly  some 
claimed  too  much  at  the  expense  of  the  whole,  and  if 
we  encouraged  individualism  beyond  a  certain  point  there 
was  presently  an  annoying  and  reprehensible  manifesta- 
tion of  selfish  egoism.  Finding  ourselves  in  this  latter 
condition  we  tried  to  get  back  to  the  center  of  the  nar- 
row strait  in  which  we  were  obliged  to  sail.  To  effect 
this  we  made  such  new  alterations  in  our  Constitution 
and  By-Laws  as  seemed  necessary  to  save  us  from  newly 
threatened  perils.  The  former  remained  much  as  it  had 
been  for  two  years,  and  need  not  be  reproduced  at  thi& 
time ;  the  most  radical  change  being  incorporated  in  a 
By-Law  which  introduced  an  entirely  new  feature  into  our 
industrial  system.  It  is  therefore  inserted  entire : 

"BY-LAW   RESPECTING    INDUSTRIAL    ORGANIZATION. 

"SECTION  1.  All  the  resident  members  of  this  Community 
with  their  family  dependents  shall  be  organized  as  far  as- 
practicable  into  Bands  and  Sections. 

"  SEC.  2.  Each  Band  shall  have  charge  of  a  particular  inter- 
est and  prosecute  a  definite  subdivision  of  industry  during  a 
specific  portion  of  each  day,  week,  or  month,  and  shall  elect 
their  Monitor  once  every  fortnight. 

"  SEC.  3.  Sections  shall  consist  of  several  Bands  engaged  in 
branches  or  sub-branches  of  the  same  general  business,  and 
shall  elect  their  Director  once  in  two  months,  subject  to  a 
negative  of  the  Executive  Council. 

"  SEC.  4.  The  Bands  shall  be  formed  as  far  as  possible  by 
elective  affinity;  and  no  person  over  ten  years  of  age  shall  be 
a  member  of  any  Band  by  constraint  or  against  the  will  of 
a  majority  of  the  Band. 


INDUSTRIAL   RE-ORGANIZATION.  135 

"  SEC.  5.  No  Band  shall  be  formed  (except  for  a  temporary 
service)  or  dissolved  without  the  approbation  of  the  Executive 
Council,  who  shall  determine  all  questions  in  dispute  not  sea- 
sonably adjusted  by  the  members  of  the  Bands  and  Sections 
among  themselves. 

"SEC.  6.  The  average  amount  of  time  required  of  each 
individual  for  the  service  of  the  Community  shall  be  forty- 
eight  hours  per  week  from  the  first  of  October  to  the  first  of 
April,  and  sixty  hours  per  week  during  the  other  half  of  the 
year,  abating  for  private  use  one  day  in  each  quarter. 

"SEC.  7.  The  hours  of  service  for  the  different  Bands  shall 
be  so  arranged  as  to  insure  proper  attention  to  all  the  various 
interests  of  the  Community,  day  and  night,  at  home  and 
abroad,  throughout  the  year.  Also  in  such  a  manner  as  to 
allcw  each  individual  reasonable  opportunities  to  go  abroad 
and  to  entertain  visiting  friends.  Also  in  such  a  manner  as 
to  allow  each  individual  an  equal  participation,  if  possible,  in 
all  the  social  privileges  of  the  Community. 

"  SEC.  8.  The  time  pledged  by  individuals  to  the  service  of 
the  Community  covering  certain  specified  portions  of  the  day, 
week,  or  month,  shall  be  held  sacred  to  that  purpose.  If 
lost,  except  by  severe  sickness  or  unavoidable  casual ity,  it 
shall  be  made  up  in  labor  or  cash  to  the  satisfaction  of  the 
Executive  Council.  If  used  for  the  transaction  of  private 
business  whereby  the  individual  receives  money  or  acquires 
gain,  the  entire  net  profit  of  -such  business  shall  belong  to 
the  Community.  But  moneys  received  or  profits  acquired  by 
business  transacted  in  unpledged  time  shall  belong  to  the 
individual. 

"  SEC.  9.  The  operatives  shall  ordinarily  pledge  their  time 
and  perform  their  services  between  4  o'clock  in  the  morning 
and  9  o'clock  in  the  evening,  according  to  the  necessities  of 
business  and  their  individual  inclination.  But  to  meet  extra- 
ordinary emergencies  the  Executive  Council  or  any  one  of  the 
Intendants  may  request  and  accept  service  at  any  hour  of  the 
day  or  night. 

"SEC.  10.  Each  individual  shall  furnish  him  or  herself 
with  lodging,  furniture,  and  all  handicraft  tools  necessary  to 
efficient  industry,  except  such  as  general  convenience  may 
require  the  Community  to  furnish.  And  on  the  value  of  such 
furniture  and  tools  the  operative  shall  be  allowed  a  fair  per 


136  THE   HOPEDALE   COMMUNITY. 

cent,  per  annum.  Otherwise  the  Community  shall  charge  a 
fair  per  cent,  per  annum  for  the  use  thereof. 

SEC.  11.  All  who  cheerfully  concur  in  this  organization 
shall  be  insured,  as  a  fair  compensation  for  their  services,  the 
following  specified  provisions,  stipends,  and  contingent  divi- 
dends, viz.: 

"Each  operative  over  sixteen  years  of  age  shall  be  allowed 
for  clothing  and  pocket  money,  payable  in  acceptable  goods, 
cash  or  credits,  at  the  option  of  the  individual,  twenty-five 
dollars  per  annum.  Each  operative  under  sixteen  and  over 
eight  years  of  age  shall  be  allowed  for  the  same  purpose  in 
acceptable  goods,  cash  or  credits,  fourteen  dollars  per  annum. 
Children  under  eight  years  of  age  shall  be  provided  with  suit- 
able clothing  to  the  value  of  eight  dollars  per  annum.  And 
the  making  up  of  said  clothing,  so  far  as  the  same  may  be 
done  by  Community  operatives,  shall  be  without  charge. 

"Each  family  and  individual  shall  be  provided  with  house- 
room,  fuel,  light,  food,  washing  and  mending,  medicine,  medi- 
cal and  nursing  attendance,  and  conveyance  by  horse  and 
carriage  (reckoning  only  persons  over  sixteen  years  of  age) 
fifty  miles  each  per  annum. 

"All  State*,  County,  Town,  and  School  District  taxes  on 
polls  and  on  real  estate  situated  within  the  limits  of  Hope- 
dale,  not  exceeding  in  value  one  thousand  dollars,  shall  be 
paid  by  the  Community.  Also  all  governmental  fines  neces- 
sarily incurred  by  fidelity  to  the  principles  of  our  Declaration. 

"  Such  individuals  as  own  houses  and  lots  in  the  village 
which  they  intend  to  occupy  and  improve  shall  be  allowed 
four  per  cent,  per  annum  on  the  just  valuation  thereof,  not 
exceeding  one  thousand  dollars,  and  a  reasonable  amount  of 
team  work,  manure,  and  manual  labor,  for  the  cultivation  of 
their  gardens.  Provided,  always,  that  they  consume  in  their  own 
families  whatever  they  may  need  of  the  production  of  their 
lots,  and,  after  making  such  friendly  presents  out  of  the  same 
as  they  may  desire,  deliver  the  surplus  to  the  Community  for 
a  fair  equivalent;  and  provided  also  that  they  furnish  their 
houses  and  keep  them  in  repair  at  their  own  expense. 

"Each  member  shall  receive  of  the  net  profits  of  the  Com- 
munity after  the  Joint-Stock  shall  have  been  paid  its  constitu- 
tional four  per  cent.,  an  equal  proportion  with  all  the  other 
members  not  exceeding  fifty  cents  for  every  ten  hours  of 


REGULATION   CONCERNING   CHILDREN.  137 

service  credited  to  him  or  her  on  the  books  of  the  Commu- 
nity. The  services  of  dependents  shall  draw  no  dividend 
except  by  special  vote  of  the  Community. 

"SEC.  12.  The  Monitor  of  each  Band  shall  keep  a  correct 
account  of  the  time  spent  by  each  individual  in  service  apper- 
taining to  the  province  of  his  or  her  Band  and  report  the 
same  weekly  to  the  Director  of  his  or  her  Section,  who  shall 
make  a  monthly  report  of  the  whole  to  the  Intendant  of 
Finance  and  Exchange;  and  he  shall  prepare  a  quarterly 
abstract  both  of  services  rendered  and  of  the  pecuniary  stand- 
ing of  the  Community  for  the  inspection  of  the  Executive 
Council. 

"SEC.  13.  All  children  and  youth  under  eighteen  years  of 
age  connected  with  this  Community  shall  be  considered  pupils, 
and  after  leaving  the  nursery  shall  be  regularly  instructed  in 
the  useful  arts  and  sciences  four  hours  per  day  through  the 
year  except  on  Saturdays  and  Sundays,  and  excepting  also 
vacations  of  one  week  in  each  quarter.  The  infant  class  shall 
receive  instruction  two  hours  in  the  forenoon  and  two  in  the 
afternoon.  The  older  pupils  shall  receive  instruction  wholly 
in  the  forenoon  or  in  the  afternoon  so  as  to  be  regularly 
employed  without  interruption  during  the  remaining  half  day 
in  the  industrial  organization.  No  pupil  shall  be  allowed  to 
attempt  more  than  three  scholastic  exercises  in  the  same  half 
day  or  to  pursue  more  than  four  branches  of  study  requiring 
recitation,  analysis,  or  special  instruction,  during  the  same 
quarter.  And  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  teachers  to  render 
every  pupil  as  thoroughly  proficient  as  possible  in  the  studies 
attempted  before  permitted  a  transition  to  new  or  higher 
studies.  It  shall  also  be  the  duty  of  the  teachers  carefully  to 
supervise  the  morals  of  the  children  and  youth  under  their 
instruction,  to  check  their  vicious  tendencies,  refine  their  man- 
ners, oversee  their  recreations,  and  guard  them  against  all  evil 
habits. 

"  Passed  in  regular  meeting  at  Hopedale,  Dec.  17,  1844. 

ADIN  BALLOU,  Pres't. 

We  now  arrive  at  the  Community's  Fourth  Annual 
Meeting  held  in  their  School-house  Chapel,  Jan.  8,  1845. 
At  that  time  what  was  called  the  Consolidated  Fund  of 
the  Community  covered  four  hundred  acres  of  laud  with 


138  THE    HOPEDALE    COMMUNITY. 

valuable  mill  privileges,  three  dwelling-houses,  one  large 
mechanic  shop,  a  School-house  Chapel,  barns,  and  other 
out-buildings.  Besides  this  property,  which  was  owned 
in  Joint-Stock,  individual  members  owned  and  occupied 
in  the  village  seven  dwelling-houses  built  within  the 
previous  two  years.  These  dwelling-houses  and  their 
respective  half  acre  lots,  with  all  improvements  and 
appurtenances,  though  under  the  general  control  of  the 
Community  and  for  all  practical  purposes  a  part  of  its 
serviceable  capital,  were  not  included  in  the  report  of  the 
Executive  Council  as  belonging  to  its  proprietorship. 
That  report  related  solely  to  what  was  strictly  associated 
capital  and  operations  carried  on  with  it  under  the  direc- 
tion of  Community  officials.  An  abstract  of  that  portion 
of  it  which  pertained  to  financial  matters  is  subjoined  : 

"  Whole  amount  of  cash  received  into  the  Treasury  during 
the  year,  $9,094.38;  disbursed,  $9,109.57;  due  the  Treasurer, 
$15.19.  Amount  paid  for  labor  during  the  year,  $5614.53. 
The  amount  of  property  in  the  Consolidated  Fund,  $12,364.68; 
deducting  debts  owing  on  mortgage,  $5,300.00,  leaves  an  unin- 
cumbered  amount  of  $7,064.68.  Amount  of  Floating  Fund 
clear,  $2,992.23 ;  making  the  entire  Joint-Stock  property  free  of 
all  indebtedness,  $10,056.91.  The  amount  of  Joint-Stock  covered 
by  certificates,  $9,600.00 ;  giving  a  net  profit  on  the  year's  oper- 
ations $456.91. 

"  Considering  all  the  unfavorable  cirumstances  under  which 
the  Community  has  hitherto  labored,"  the  report  concludes, 
"  the  Council  can  but  congratulate  themselves  and  their  asso- 
ciates on  so  cheering  a  result.  They  can  not  doubt  that  future 
operations  going  on  under  the  present  auspicious  arrangements 
will  realize,  by  the  divine  blessing,  a  constantly  increasing 
prosperity. 

"  Per  order  of  the  Council. 

"  A.   BALLOU,  Prest." 

The  official  servants  elected  in  due  form  for  the  ensu- 
ing year  were :  President,  ADIN  BALLOU  ;  Secretary, 
LEMUEL  MUNYAN  ;  Auditor,  HENRY  FISH  ;  Intendants :. 


FOURTH   ANNUAL  MEETING.  139- 

Finance  and  Exchange,  E.  D.  DRAPER;  Agriculture  and 
Animals,  A.  J.  BALLOU;  Manufactures  and  Mechanical 
Industries,  HENRY  LILLIE;  Health  and  Domestic  Economy, 
BUTLER  WILMARTH  ;  Education,  Arts,  and  Sciences,  WM. 
H.  FISH;  Religion,  Morals,  and  Missions,  GEORGE  W. 
STACY. 

An  article  iii  The  Practical  Christian  of  Feb.  1,  1845,, 
written  by  the  Editor-in-Chief,  giving  an  account  of  this- 
meeting,  has  the  following  passage : 

"  Nearly  all  the  other  Associations  and  Communities  started 
off  with  more  ample  resources,  operated  on  a  larger  scale,  and 
of  course  put  in  stronger  claims  to  the  attention  of  the  public 
than  ours.  Our  object  was  grand,  our  aim  high,  our  funda- 
mental principles  sublime.  In  these  respects  our  Institution 
is  second  to  no  other.  But  in  respect  to  numbers,  pecuniary 
resources,  and  all  that  gives  worldly  distinction,  it  is  compara- 
tively a  diminutive  thing.  Incited  by  deep  religious  convic- 
tions of  duty,  impelled  by  the  ardor  of  enthusiasm,  sustained 
by  the  energies  of  hope  and  crowned  with  the  blessing  of  God, 
our  members  have  surmounted  all  obstacles  and  laid  the  foun- 
dation of  a  social  structure  which  promises,  in  compensation 
for  the  slowness  of  its  growth,  strength,  durability,  and  ulti- 
mate importance.  The  undertaking  was  a  great  one.  It  was 
surrounded  with  a  host  of  difficulties,  more  heterogenous  and 
complex  than  could  easily  have  been  anticipated.  They  still 
array  themselves  in  formidable  groups  along  our  pathway,  but 
the  achievements  of  the  past  assure  us  of  future  victory  and 
are  a  presage  of  our  final  triumph.  And  what  a  triumph  will 
that  be  when  we  can  behold  religion,  talent,  skill,  capital,  and 
industry  combined  in  sufficient  force,  even  in  one  single  loca- 
tion, to  insure  domestic  independence,  and  to  diffuse  around  it 
the  salutary  influence  of  a  truly  Christian  Commonwealth.  We 
will  hope  on  and  labor  ever  for  the  results  which  illuminate 
the  prospects  of  the  future.  Who  can  devote  life  to  a  nobler 
end?  It  is  a  pleasure  to  toil  and  struggle  under  the  inspira- 
tions of  so  glorious  an  expectation.  With  our  present  convic- 
tions of  duty  and  tone  of  feeling  no  worldly  advantages  or 
distinctions  would  reconcile  us  to  the  abandonment  of  this 
enterprise,  though  comparative  insignificance  and  obscurity 


140  THE   HOPEDALE   COMMUNITY. 

under   the    continuous    pressure    of    anxious    cares   will   in   all 
probability  be  the  lot  of  a  life  devoted  to  its  support." 

Remarkably  good  health  prevailed  at  Hopedaie  through- 
out the  entire  year  1844,  and  no  death  occurred  among 
either  our  resident  or  non-resident  members.  A  former 
member,  mentioned  several  times  on  the  foregoing  pages, 
Mrs.  Charlotte  P.  (Hooton)  Taft  of  Uxbridge,  died  by 
her  own  hand  on  the  5th  of  February.  She  had  some 
months  before  fallen  into  a  state  of  deep  despondency, 
which  ripened  into  partial  insanity  leading  to  the  sad 
result.  A  great  bereavement  which  befel  my  wife  and 
her  family  connections,  and  indeed  the  public  at  large 
this  year,  must  not  be  left  unrecorded  in  these  annals. 
It  was  the  sudden  decease  of  her  honored  and  beloved 
father,  Pearley  Hunt,  Esq.,  of  Milford,  who  was  fatally 
stricken  with  heart  disease  on  the  29th  of  March  in  the 
73d  year  of  his  age.  He  was  a  kind  and  devoted  hus- 
band and  father,  a  good  friend  to  our  Community, 
besides  illustrating  many  excellent  characteristics  which 
entitled  him  to  the  distinguished  respect  so  generally 
accorded  him  in  the  town  where  he  had  spent  his  life 
and  the  region  round  about. 


CHAPTER    V. 

1845-1847. 

VARYING   FORTUNES  —  NOTABLE   EVENTS  —  INCREASING 
ACTIVITY  —  NEW   PERILS  —  A    RECON- 
STRUCTED POLITY. 

IT  will  have  been  noted  by  the  thoughtful  reader  that 
the  economical  polity  provided  for  in  the  By-Law 
which  was  given  entire  near  the  close  of  the  last  Chap- 
ter and  soon  after  put  into  operation  among  us,  indicated 
a  swing  again  towards  a  more  closely  associated  and  also 
a  more  complex  administration  of  Community  affairs.  To 
those  at  all  familiar  with  the  elaborate  and  somewhat 
mystical  system  of  social  reconstruction  devised  by  the 
French  philosopher,  Charles  Fourier,  already  adverted  to, 
and  urged  upon  the  attention  of  philanthropists  and 
reformers  of  the  country  by  Albert  Brisbane,  Horace 
Greeley,  Parke  Godwin,  and  others,  it  will  suggest  our 
acquaintance  with,  and  perhaps  a  distant  imitation,  after 
a  bungling  fashion,  of  some  of  his  unique  and  fanciful 
methods.  At  any  rate,  it  put  the  previously  dominant 
individualism,  with  all  its  annoying  and  dangerous  excesses- 
of  personal  angularity,  arrogance,  and  self-aggrandize- 
ment, for  the  time  being  under  the  ban,  and  made  the 
idea  of  unitary  interests  and  affiliated  responsibilities — the 
idea  of  "each  for  all" — prominent  and  controlling.  But 
this  new  arrangement  we  soon  found  to  be  beset  by  three 
difficulties  which  predetermined  it  to  an  early  failure : 
First,  smallness  of  numbers ;  second,  lack  of  skillful,, 
experienced  leaders ;  third,  a  continual  influx  upon  us  of 


142  THE   HOPEDALE   COMMUNITY. 

raw,  undisciplined  recruits.  These  were  by  no  means 
novel  with  us.  We  had  been  encountering  them  from 
the  outset,  and  they  were  our  bane  under  whatever  plan 
of  operation  we  were  tempted  to  act  —  all  because  we 
began  to  build  without  patient,  adequate,  pecuniary  means 
and  suitable  materials.  Yet,  go  on,  awhile  at  least,  in 
the  way  the  change  required,  we  must.  We  could  not 
stop  the  momentum  of  our  social  movement  now  turned 
in  that  direction  if  we  would,  and  we  flattered  ourselves 
that  the  wheel-horses  of  our  omnibus  had  become  way- 
wise  and  reliable  —  equal  to  all  emergencies  —  and  so 
pressed  forward  with  our  continually  increasing  freight. 
Nor  were  we  altogether  unsuccessful,  though  our  burdens 
and  hindrances  were  great. 

The  change  of  policy  on  our  part  seemed  for  a  while 
to  stimulate  rather  than  check  enterprise  among  us. 
Applications  for  membership  or  for  probationship  in  our 
organization  multiplied ;  as  also  did  applications  for  resi- 
dence in  our  midst  with  a  view  of  learning  something  of 
our  ideas,  objects,  manner  of  life,  etc.,  and  of  joining 
us  if  all  proved  satisfactory.  Indeed,  this  feature  of  our 
experience  was  one  of  our  trials — one  of  the  burdens  of 
responsibility  that  weighed  upon  us  exceedingly. 

A  considerable  number  of  house-lots  were  sold  during 
the  summer  of  1845,  upon  some  of  which  dwellings  were 
•erected  before  the  year  expired,  wholly  or  in  part,  and 
other  improvements  made.  Gardens  were  cultivated,  fruit 
and  other  trees  were  planted,  streets  were  extended, 
operations  on  the  Community  farm  were  carried  on  vigor- 
ously, new  industries  were  introduced,  and  a  growing 
appearance  of  thrift  and  contentment  was  manifest  in  all 
directions,  in  all  departments  of  our  widely  diversified 
undertaking. 

An  interesting  incident  illustrative  of  the  times  and  of 
the  attitude  of  the  Community  towards  a  wronged  and 
outcast  race,  is  brought  to  notice  in  a  vote  passed  the 


IIOPEDALE   CEMETERY   LOCATED.  143 

28th  of  June,  "to  allow  Rosetta  Hall  to  reside  at  the 
Community  house  for  an  indefinite  length  of  time  and 
work  for  her  board,  education,  etc."  Rosetta  was  a 
protege  of  Frederick  Douglass,  the  two  having  known 
each  other  as  slaves  some  years  before  she  appeared  in 
our  midst.  On  escaping  from  the  house  of  bondage  she 
appealed  to  him  for  aid  in  her  forlorn  condition.  He 
kindly  responded  to  her  appeal  and  in  due  time  brought 
her  to  Hopedale,  where  she  would  be  among  friends  who 
would  see  that  no  harm  came  to  her,  and  do  all  they 
could  to  educate  her  and  help  her  in  other  possible  ways. 
She  was  made  welcome  by  our  people,  and  treated  with 
all  due  consideration  and  kindness  while  she  remained 
within  our  borders.  She  proved  herself  a  girl  of  most 
amiable  disposition,  of  engaging  manners,  and  of  refined 
nature  generally,  winning  the  respect,  confidence,  and 
love,  as  she  won  the  compassionate  pity  of  all  who  knew 
her.  Her  stay  with  us  was  comparatively  brief  and  she 
left  with  the  best  wishes  of  all  our  people  for  her  future 
welfare  and  happiness. 

The  Hopedale  Cemetery.  Although  no  death  had  as 
yet  occurred  on  our  territory,  yet  it  was  deemed  advisa- 
ble early  in  the  year  1845  that  a  suitable  tract  of  land 
somewhere  within  our  borders  should  be  selected  for 
burial  purposes  and  properly  laid  out  for  use  when  occa- 
sion should  require,  and  a  vote  to  that  effect  was  passed 
by  the  Community  at  a  meeting  held  on  the  8th  day  of 
April.  Pursuant  to  that  vote  several  parcels  of  ground 
that  had  previously  been  suggested  were  carefully 
examined,  but  found  by  reason  of  the  rocky  nature  of 
the  soil  or  an  underlying  ledge  to  be  unfit  for  the  pur- 
pose. These  were  located  upon  the  original  Jones  farm 
and  were  first  spoken  of  before  we  had  made  any  out- 
lying additions  thereto.  But  the  recent  purchase  of  the 
Amos  Cook  estate  had  brought  a  more  favorable  site 
into  notice,  to  which  the  attention  of  the  Council  was  in 


144  THE   HOPEDALE   COMMUNITY. 

due  time  directed.  It  commended  itself  to  their  best 
judgment  and  upon  their  recommendation  the  Community, 
on  the  27th  of  September, 

"  Voted,  (1)  That  the  lot  of  land  situated  on  the  Cook  farm 
between  the  wood-lot  of  Henry  Chapin  on  the  west  and  the 
widow  Amasa  Parkhurst's  meadow  on  the  east,  as  the  same  is 
now  fenced,  be  set  apart,  or  so  much  thereof  as  may  be  deemed 
necessary,  as  a  Cemetery  for  this  Community. 

"  (2)  That  the  Executive  Council  be  instructed  to  designate 
as  soon  as  possible  the  particular  part  of  said  Cemetery  ground 
on  which  it  is  proper  to  commence  burying. 

"(3)  That  they  cause  a  suitable  portion  of  said  ground  to 
be  surveyed  and  laid  off  into  lots. 

"  (4)  That  they  enter  a  report  of  their  doings,  with  a  Plan 
of  their  survey  designating  all  the  avenues  by  name  and  the 
lots  by  number,  in  the  Community  Registry." 

Thus  was  set  apart  and  devoted  to  its  proper  uses  the 
tract  of  land  where  as  time  went  on  all  that  was  mortal 
of  our  dearly  beloved  was  to  be  consigned  "earth  to 
earth  and  dust  to  dust,"  and  where  we  ourselves,  or  so- 
many  of  us  as  continued  to  reside  in  Hopedale  to  the 
end  of  our  days,  should  finally,  as  to  our  material  frames, 
sleep  the  last  long  sleep  of  earth  and  time.  The  location 
was  happily  chosen  as  not  very  far  away  and  yet  suffi- 
ciently removed  from  the  bustle  and  toil  of  our  common 
every-day  life  to  insure  that  quiet  which  is  becoming  a 
place  of  sepulture  and  conducive  to  self-recollection,  medi- 
tation, and  communion  with  the  spirits  of  those  who  are 
"not  lost  but  gone  before,"  and  with  the  infinite  Spirit,, 
the  heavenly  Father  of  all  mankind. 

For  some  reason  which  does  not  now  appear,  but  proba- 
bly because  there  was  no  immediate  need  of  a  burial 
place  for  any  of  our  people,  no  death  occurring  for  some 
time  after  the  above  votes  were  passed,  and  because  of 
the  urgent  demands  made  upon  the  time  and  energy  of 
the  members  of  the  Council  in  other  directions,  the  care-- 


NEW   POLICY   UNSATISFACTORY.  145 

ful  survey  and  laying  out  of  lots,  etc.,  with  an  accurate 
plan  of  the  same  were  not  completed  for  some  two  years 
after,  as  will  be  noted  in  its  proper  place. 

By  recurring  to  the  records  of  Community  action  during 
the  latter  part  of  the  year  under  notice,  it  is  found  that 
the  industrial  and  economical  policy  inaugurated  at  its 
opening  did  not  work  so  harmoniously  and  advanta- 
geously as  was  confidently  anticipated.  Like  many  other 
things,  not  only  in  Community  life  but  in  ordinary  human 
affairs,  it  looked  much  better  in  theory  than  it  proved  to 
be  in  practice,  its  glowing  promise  not  ripening  into  a 
happy  fulfillment.  In  September  the  Executive  Council 
was  called  upon  "to  make  a  special  report  of  the  finan- 
cial state  of  the  Community  up  to  this  date " ;  a  very 
unusual  occurrence,  and  one  showing  that  an  emergency 
had  arisen  demanding  unusual  action  on  the  part  of  the 
members.  Ten  days  later  the  required  report  was  made 
through  the  Intendant  of  Finance  and  referred  to  a 
"  select  committee,  who  shall  investigate  the  affairs  of  the 
Community  in  order  to  arrive  at  some  method  of  obvi- 
ating present  difficulties."  That  committee  after  a  brief 
interval  reported,  recommending  certain  modifications  in 
the  existing  system  of  operations  and  the  suspension  of 
certain  questionable  methods  of  management  till  the  fol- 
lowing January.  The  report  was  accepted  and  the  recom- 
mendations ordered  to  be  carried  into  effect,  a  committee 
or  board  of  direction  being  chosen  to  superintend  the 
matter.  From  that  time  forward  our  social  machinery 
ran  smoothly  and  effectively,  to  the  relief  and  satisfaction 
of  most  of  those  concerned,  though  one  of  our  principal 
members  had  become  so  seriously  disaffected  that  he  soon 
after  resigned  and  separated  himself  from  us  thenceforths 
as  will  soon  be  seen. 

Visit  of  Robert  Owen.     An   event   of   great   interest   to» 
us,    and    of    considerable    significance    to    the    friends    of 
Social   Reform   generally,    was    a   two   days'   visit   in   the 
10 


146  THE  HOPEDALE   COMMUNITY. 

month  of  November  from  the  renowned  English  Socialist, 
Robert  Owen.  He  was  the  author  of  several  works  on 
the  subject  with  which  his  name  is  identified,  the  most 
important  of  which  was  entitled  4  4  The  Book  of  the  New 
Moral  World,"  in  which  he  promulgated  an  original  sys- 
tem of  Religion  and  Ethics,  founded,  as  he  claimed,  on 
reason,  and  applicable  to  the  needs  of  individual  and 
social  life.  He  was  also  the  projector  of  an  interesting 
and  temporarily  successful  social  experiment  at  New 
Lanark,  Scotland,  and  also  at  New  Harmony,  Ind., 
where,  in  1824,  he  purchased  of  the  Rappites,  a  colony  of 
German  Socialists,  their  entire  estate  consisting  of  30,000 
acres  of  land  and  dwellings  for  2,000  persons.  This  ven-. 
ture  proved  a  failure  and  he  returned  to  England  after  a 
few  years  to  experiment  still  further  though  with  no 
better  success,  and  write  and  lecture  upon  his  favorite 
theme.  His  system  was  a  modified  communism  based 
upon  an  absolute  equality  of  all  human  beings  in  rights 
and  duties,  and  the  abolition  of  all  superiority  even  that 
of  capital  and  intelligence.  He  had  immense  wealth,  a 
large  part  of  which  he  spent  in  proclaiming  his  views  to 
the  world  and  in  putting  them  to  the  test  of  practical 
application. 

At  the  time  of  his  brief  sojourn  at  Hopedale  he  was 
making  a  tour  of  the  United  States  for  the  purpose  of 
promulgating  still  further  his  views  and  of  visiting  the 
different  Communities  then  recently  started  out  in  their 
varied  and  problematical  career.  Of  him  and  his  distinct- 
ive characteristics  the  editor  of  The  Practical  Christian 
spoke  in  the  issue  succeeding  his  call  upon  us,  thus  : 

"He  is  a  remarkable  man.  In  years,  nearly  seventy-five;  in  | 
knowledge  and  experience,  superabundant;  in  benevolence  of  | 
heart,  transcendental;  in  honesty,  without  disguise;  in  philan- 
thropy, unlimited;  in  religion,  a  skeptic;  in  theology,  a 
Pantheist;  in  metaphysics,  a  necessarian  circumstantialist;  in 
morals,  a  universal  excusionist;  in  general  conduct,  a  philo- 


ESTIMATE    OF   ROBERT   OWEN.  147 

sophic  non-resistant;  in  socialism,  a  communist;  in  hope,  a 
terrestrial  elysianist;  in  practical  business,  a  methodist;  in 
deportment,  an  unequivocal  gentleman.  We  have  enjoyed  his 
visit,  conversation,  and  public  addresses  much.  We  cannot 
sympathize  with  his  Pantheism,  skepticism,  necessarianism,  or 
universal  excusionism,  nor  with  all  his  hopes  of  speedily  resolv- 
ing this  ignorant  and  wretched  world  into  a  Community  Elys- 
ium. We  expect  as  much  good  and  as  complete  happiness  as 
he  does  for  the  human  race,  but  not  so  soon,  nor  through  the 
same  philosophy,  nor  by  precisely  the  same  practical  arrange- 
ments and  operations. 

"  And  now  for  what  we  admire  and  sympathize  with  in  the 
man.  His  benevolence  and  philanthrophy.  He  embraces  the 
whole  human  race  in  ardent  affection.  He  holds  no  human 
being  an  outlaw,  an  alien,  a  stranger,  to  be  cast  off,  over- 
looked, or  injured.  He  knows  no  enemies  to  hate,  persecute, 
or  punish.  He  loves  all,  seeks  the  good  of  all,  labors  for  all, 
hopes  for  all.  In  this  we  admire  him,  agree  with  him,  sympa- 
thize with  him.  We  admire  his  frank,  straight-forward  honesty, 
coupled  with  tolerance,  forbearance,  courtesy,  and  kindness  to 
opponents.  He  conceals  nothing;  he  even  dogmatises  about  his 
'three  errors'  and  their  counter  truths;  he  declares  his  abhor- 
rence of  the  evils  of  existing  society  and  denounces  them;  he 
proclaims  himself  the  uncompromising  apostle  of  his  new  dis- 
pensation, and  declares  that  his  whole  life  and  substance  are 
devoted  to  radical  reform ;  and  yet  he  is  uniformly  kind,  calm, 
patient,  conciliatory,  and  courteous  in  all  his  conversation, 
addresses  and  proceedings.  This  is  noble,  excellent. 

"  His  knowledge  of  men  and  things ;  his  extensive  general 
reading  and  observation;  his  long  and  varied  experience  in 
the  methods  of  conducting  productive  industry,  manufactures, 
trade,  education,  and  government;  his  accumulation  and  ready 
command  of  European  statistics;  his  doctrines,  schemes,  and 
detailed  plans  for  bringing  mankind  into  a  new  social  order; — 
these  render  him  one  of  the  most  intelligent,  instructive,  and 
entertaining  conversationists  and  lecturers  with  whom  we  have 
ever  met.  Notwithstanding  all  our  differences  about  matters 
of  religion,  philosophy,  ethics,  etc..  we  shall  always  be  thankful 
for  his  visit  to  Hopedale  and  are  sure  of  having  derived  much 
valuable  practical  information  from  his  communications.  These 
we  hope  to  turn  to  good  account  in  carrying  forward  the  great 


148  THE   HOPEDALE   COMMUNITY. 

enterprise  to  which  we  are  devoted.  One  fact  in  his  career  will 
we  mention  which  goes  to  confirm  our  confidence  in  the  abso- 
lute practicability  of  Non-resistance.  Mr.  Owen  testifies  that 
he  superintended  at  New  Lanark  in  Scotland  for  thirty  years 
a  manufacturing  establishment  with  2500  population  attached 
to  it,  originally  from  the  dregs  of  the  country.  These  he 
gradually  rendered  the  best,  the  most  orderly  society  of  work- 
ing people  in  Europe.  Yet  he  never  had  one  person,  old  or 
young,  prosecuted  at  law,  corporally  punished,  imprisoned,  or 
fined  in  all  that  time.  This  means  something  and  deserves  to 
be  taken  note  of  and  remembered. 

"Mr.  Owen  has  vast  schemes  to  develop  and  vast  hopes  of 
speedy  success  in  establishing  a  great  model  of  a  new  social 
state  which  will  almost  instantaneously  bring  the  race  of  man 
into  a  terrestrial  paradise.  He  insists  on  obtaining  a  million 
dollars  capital  to  be  expended  in  lands,  buildings,  machinery, 
conveniences,  and  beautifications  for  his  model  Community;, 
all  to  be  finished  and  put  in  perfect  order  before  he  introduces 
into  their  new  home  the  well-selected  population  who  are  to 
inhabit  it.  He  flatters  himself  that  he  shall  be  able,  by  some 
means,  to  induce  capitalists,  or  perhaps  the  U.  S.  Congress,  ta 
furnish  the  requisite  means  for  attaining  this  object.  We  were 
obliged  to  shake  an  incredulous  head  and  tell  him  frankly  how 
groundless,  in  our  judgment,  all  such  anticipations  must  prove."" 

This  nobly-endowed,  great-hearted,  sublimely  enthu- 
siastic lover  of  his  kind,  labored  on,  struggled  on.  for 
thirteen  years  after  this  visit  to  Hopedale,  with  all  the 
ardor,  courage,  and  zeal  of  an  inspired  prophet,  for  the 
actualization  of  his  "New  Moral  World,"  but  "died 
without  the  sight";  breathing  his  last  in  his  native  place, 
Newton,  Montgomeryshire,  England,  Nov.  19,  1858,  at 
the  advanced  age  of  87  years. 

Withdrawal  of  Bro.  Geo.  W.  Stacy.  Another  but  sadly 
interesting  incident  in  the  year's  experience  was  the  resig- 
nation of  Bro.  George  W.  Stacy  from  Community  mem- 
bership, followed  not  long  afterward  by  his  removal  to 
the  neighboring  village  of  Milford.  The  domestic  and 
industrial  arrangements  under  which  we  were  operating 


WITHDRAWAL  OF  GEORGE  W.  STACY.       149 

bad  become  increasingly  distasteful  to  him,  and  probably 
some  features  of  their  administration  decidedly  offensive. 
Moreover,  there  had  arisen  occasional  friction  between  him 
and  other  brethren  concerning  the  management  of  affairs, 
resulting  at  times  in  sharp  disputes,  and  he  with  his 
temperament  naturally  began  to  sigh  for  a  larger  liberty 
and  a  more  unchallenged  exercise  of  his  individual  rights 
of  thought,  of  speech,  and  of  action.  His  wife  had 
never  formally  united  with  us,  having  no  real  sympathy 
but  rather  an  instinctive  aversion  to  such  close  social 
relations  and-  orderly  methods  of  operation.  This  may 
have  quickened  his  growing  dislike  of  the  existing  policy, 
though  he  never  pleaded  it  among  the  reasons  for  his 
course.  Matters  were  brought  to  a  crisis  by  certain  arti- 
cles, pro  and  con,  in  The  Practical  Christian,  the  first 
entitled  "Devotion  to  Principle"  appearing  over  his 
name  in  the  issue  of  Nov.  29.  It  clearly  indicated  what 
some  of  us  had  more  than  suspected  was  the  drift  of  his 
thought,  as  it  did  the  loosening  of  the  hold  of  the  Com- 
munity idea  upon  his  mind  and  heart.  A  responsive 
article  in  the  next  number,  from  the  pen  of  Clement 
O.  Reed,  reflected  somewhat  severely  on  Bro.  Stacy's 
insinuations,  and  called  for  more  specific  statements  of 
grievance,  if  grievance  there  really  were,  in  the  organ- 
ization or  administration  of  Community  affairs.  This 
brought  out  an  immediate  reply  from  the  aggrieved 
brother,  which  contained  such  grave  charges  against  the 
existing  order  of  things,  that  I,  though  referred  to  by  the 
author  in  a  most  fraternal  manner  and  absolved  from  all 
blameworthiness,  felt  it  to  be  my  duty  to  meet  the  accu- 
sations with  a  deserved  denial  and  refutation;  and  this  I 
clid  in  the  same  issue  that  contained  Bro.  Stacy's  second 
article.  A  rejoinder  on  his  part  followed,  with  an  accom- 
panying "Omega"  from  me.  All  this  was  done  in  plain 
frankness  on  both  sides,  but  without  bitterness  or  personal 
reproach.  It  was,  nevertheless,  exceedingly  unpleasant, 


150  THE   HOPEDALE   COMMUNITY. 

nay,  painful  to  me,  as  possibly  it  was  to  him.  The 
newspaper  controversy,  which  might  as  well  have  been 
omitted  perhaps,  no  doubt  hastened  the  final  act  of  with- 
drawal though  it  could  not  under  the  circumstances  have 
been  long  deferred.  Thus  the  second  of  my  brother 
ministers  on  whom  I  placed  great  dependence  at  the  out- 
set of  the  enterprise,  abandoned  it  at  a  critical  hour  of 
its  history  and  remained  permanently  alien  to  it,  though 
on  quite  dissimilar  grounds  from  those  upon  which  the 
first  left  us.  Whatever  of  ungenerous  feeling  or  harshness 
of  spirit  was  aroused  in  these  cases  at  the*  time,  has,  I 
trust,  long  since  been  assuaged  and  overcome.  Bro. 
Stacy  has  been  our  neighbor  ever  since  he  removed  from 
our  midst,  and  our  relations  to  each  other  for  these 
many  years  have  been  cordial  and  friendly. 

The  infelicities  and  disturbances  that  agitated  us  dur- 
ing the  early  autumn  and  awakened  gloomy  apprehensions- 
in  the  minds  of  some  of  us,  had  for  the  most  part  passed 
by  before  the  close  of  the  year,  and  we  came  to  our 
annual  meeting  in  a  calm  and  hopeful  mood,  with  confi- 
dence restored  and  harmony  prevailing  throughout  our 
entire  membership.  The  report  of  the  Executive  Council 
for  the  year  ending  Dec.  31,  1845,  presented  an  encour- 
aging and  satisfactory  condition  of  the  financial  affairs  of 
the  Association,  as  the  subjoined  statement  witnesseth  : 

"Property  in  the  Consolidated  Fund,  $12,833.05 ;  from  which 
deduct  mortgages,  $5,300.00;  leaving  present  value  $7,533.05, 
Property  in  the  Floating  Fund  is  as  follows,  viz.:  Stock  on 
hand  in  the  several  departments,  $7,664.64;  due  from  individ- 
uals, $1,085.56;  bills  receivable,  $884.03;  profits  on  village  site, 
$375.00;  due  from  individuals  on  lost  time,  $193.72;  making  a 
total  of  $10,202.95.  From  this  amount  deduct  debts  owing  to 
individuals,  $3,772.91;  bills  payable,  $1,396.23;  Savings  Insti- 
tute, $24.48;  interest  on  borrowed  capital,  $464.87;  due  indi- 
viduals on  gained  time,  $83.82;  making  a  total  to  be  deducted, 
$5,742.31;  present  worth,  $4,460.64.  Total  property  clear  in 
the  two  funds,  $11,993.69.  Amount  of  Joint-Stock,  $10,850.00; 
making  the  profits,  $1,143.69." 


FIFTH   ANNUAL  MEETING.  151 

A  generous  donation  of  $124.61  from  E.  D.  Draper 
made  the  net  gain  for  the  year  $1,268.30.  This  enabled 
the  Community  to  pay  a  dividend  of  four  per  cent., 
agreeably  to  the  provisions  of  the  Constitution,  on  all  the 
Joint-Stock  for  the  entire  time  of  its  investment,  and 
such  dividend  was  accordingly  declared ;  so  that  we 
started  out  on  the  year  1846  with  no  incumbrance  of 
arrearage,  debt,  or  deficit  whatever,  a  financial  condition 
never  before  attained  and  truly  gratifying. 

The  official  servants  for  the  year  ensuing  were  :  ADIN 
BALLOU,  President;  EDMUND  SOWARD,  Secretary,  HENRY 
FISH,  Auditor;  and  the  following  Intendants:  EBENEZER 
D.  DRU-KK,  Finance  and  Exchange;  ABNER  ADAMS,  Agri- 
ami  .-In unals;  CLEMENT  O.  REED,  Manufactures 
^fr<•/t«  a /'<•«/  Industry;  BUTLER  WILMARTH,  Health  and 
Domestic  Economy;  WILLIAM  H.  FISH,  Education,  Arts, 
< i nd  Sciences;  DANIEL  S.  WHITNEY,  Religion,  Morals,  and 
Missions. 

A  considerable  portion  of  my  annual  address  as  Presi- 
dent was  devoted  to  a  review  of  the  proceeding  four 
years'  activities  in  the  various  departments  of  our  under- 
taking, with  a  presentation  of  the  grounds  upon  which 
those  engaged  in  it  could  well  rejoice  together  and  gird 
up  the  lions  of  their  strength,  courage,  hope,  and  zeal, 
for  the  continued  efforts  in  behalf  of  the  cause  to  which 
they  were  sacredly  committed  before  God  and  their  fel- 
lowmeu.  The  more  important  passages  may  not  be  out 
of  place  in  this  connection  : 

"Beloved  Associates:  This  is  our  fifth  annual  meeting;  the  \ 
fourth  that  has  been  held  since  our  settlement  on  these  prem- 
ises. 1  congratulate  you  on  its  arrival.  We  welcome  it  amid 
blessings  that  ought  to  inspire  our  hearts  with  profound  glad- 
ness, gratitude,  confidence,  and  zeal.  It  comes  to  us  replete 
with  satisfactions  and  hopes.  It  is  a  green  eminence  in  the 
progress  of  our  enterprise  from  which  we  may  survey  compla- 
cently the  past  and  the  future.  Never  before  were  our  affairs 


152  THE   HOPEDALE   COMMUNITY". 

so  prosperous,  our  foundations  so  firm,  our  prospects  so  cheer- 
ing. This  day's  Financial  Report  will  inform  you  that  for  the 
first  time  in  our  history  we  are  prepared  to  declare  a  dividend 
of  nearly  or  quite  the  constitutional  four  per  cent,  on  all  our 
Joint-Stock  from  the  time  of  its  investment.  This  will  clear 
us  of  all  our  arrearages  on  that  account  and  enable  us  to 
commence  the  new  year  with  a  fair  probability  of  being  able 
at  its  close  to  declare  at  least  a  moderate  dividend  on  labor 
itself.  Such  a  result  is  the  more  probable  from  the  fact  that 
under  our  present  improved  industrial  organization,  all  branches 
of  business  are  conducted  with  increasing  efficiency,  regularity, 
and  order.  And  also  from  the  fact  that  some  important 
branches  for  which  we  have  made  considerable  outlays  are  just 
beginning  to  render  a  profitable  return. 

"A  brief  review  of  the  past  will  impress  us  with  a  just 
appreciation  of  our  present  highly  auspicious  circumstances. 
We  commenced  this  great  undertaking  with  less  than  four 
thousand  dollars  clear  capital.  We  have  now  four  times  that 
amount,  including,  with  our  Joint-Stock,  private  property  equally 
useful  to  the  Community,  besides  our  borrowed  capital  which 
we  are  prepared  to  employ  to  good  advantage.  We  commenced 
with  one  time-shattered  dwelling-house  and  two  or  three  rick- 
ety old  barns,  without  a  single  mill-dam,  manufactory,  or  shop 
of  any  kind  for  mechanical  business,  or  school-room  for  the 
comfortable  accommodation  of  our  children.  We  now  have 
a  thriving  little  village  of  a  dozen  dwellings,  highly  improved 
and  comfortable  barns,  two  valuable  mill-dams,  a  commodious 
mechanic  shop  filled  with  useful  tools,  labor-saving  machines, 
and  various  facilities  for  carrying  on  several  branches  of  busi- 
ness; a  convenient  building  for  schools,  religious  and  other 
public  meetings,  and  numerous  other  fixtures  and  accommoda- 
tions for  the  public  advantage.  The  farm  was  completely  run 
down,  but  is  now  in  the  way  of  material  improvement,  prom- 
ising continually  increasing  returns  for  the  labor  bestowed 
on  it. 

"All  this  time  we  have  had  a  large  proportion  of  children 
to  provide  for  and  to  educate,  who  till  recently  could  not  be 
employed  to  any  tolerable  advantage.  Yet  we  have  maintained 
schools  for  them  from  four  to  six  hours  per  day,  five  days  in 
the  week,  forty-eight  weeks  to  the  year,  for  at  least  three  years 
out  of  the  three  years  and  nine  months  of  our  inhabitancy  of 


ADDRESS   OF   PRESIDENT.  153 

this  domain.  And  all  this  has  been  done  entirely  at  our  own 
expense,  while  we  have  been  paying  hundreds  of  dollars  out  of 
our  hard  earnings  into  the  town  treasury  in  the  shape  of  taxes 
—  not  a  cent  having  been  refunded.  Our  direct  and  indirect 
taxes  to  the  government  of  the  old  order  of  society  to  main- 
tain its  paupers,  its  prisons,  its  criminal  code,  its  army  and 
navy,  its  civil  list,  and  its  education  (leaving  its  roads,  which 
are  directly  beneficial  to  us,  out  of  the  account),  you  will  per- 
ceive are  of  some  consequence  to  us  as  items  in  the  cost  of 
living.  But  to  that  government,  or  rather  to  the  old  order  of 
society  which  is  taxing  us,  we  are  no  expense  whatever.  But 
by  precept  and  example  we  are  promoting  those  salutary  moral 
reforms  which  tend  constantly  to  the  diminution  of  its  public 
expenses.  So  far  as  we  are  concerned  we  make  no  paupers, 
and  can  make  none.  We  make  no  criminals  to  punish,  nor 
put  the  public  to  any  expense  for  punishing  their  criminals  on 
our  account.  We  bring  no  actions  at  law  to  be  tried  in  their 
costly  court-houses  by  liberally  salarized  judges,  extravagantly 
feed  lawyers,  and  well-paid  officers  and  attendants.  We  edu- 
cate our  own  children  and  youth.  We  govern  ourselves  by  the 
divine  law;  and  the  Almighty,  in  whom  we  trust,  protects  us 
without  the  intervention  of  military  and  naval  forces.  Consta- 
bles, sheriffs,  magistrates,  and  prisons  are  rendered  unnecessary 
by  us.  Our  principles  and  our  arrangements  prevent  all  neces- 
sity for  such  appliances.  The  world  cannot  do  without  these 
things  because  it  has  no  faith  in  any  thing  higher  than  its 
own  standard,  and  no  willingness  to  conform  to  the  conditions 
on  which  alone  it  can  ever  be  free  from  its  present  curses.  We 
can  do  without  them  for  the  contrary  reasons. 

"During  the  nearly  four  years  of  these  operations  we  have 
been  able  to  meet  our  pecuniary  liabilities  to  the  satisfaction 
of  all  concerned,  and  to  maintain  an  unsullied  credit.  Our 
seceding  members,  to  the  number  of  nearly  twenty  in  all,  have 
been  honorably  settled  with  at  their  departure,  and  paid,  either 
in  cash  or  acceptable  securities,  every  cent  due  them.  This 
has  been  a  draft  upon  our  resources  of  several  thousand  dol- 
lars. But  we  have  sustained  it  with  firmness.  And  now  we 
stand  up  in  every  possible  respect  better  conditioned  for  future 
operations  than  at  any  former  period.  Without  hard  toil,  inces- 
sant anxiety,  and  peculiarly  favorable  providences  of  God,  it 
would  have  been  impossible  for  us  to  reach  our  present  hope- 


154  THE   HOPEDALE    COMMUNITY. 

ful  position.  Let  us  therefore  humble  ourselves  in  view  of  .all 
our  unworthiness  and  ascribe  the  glory,  the  whole  glory  to  our 
Father  in  heaven. 

"We  really  occupy  an  illustrious  position.  This  now  humble 
Hopedale  is  a  Bethlehem  of  salvation  to  the  glorious  social 
future.  If  others  despise  it  or  protrude  at  us  the  lip  of  scorn 
because  we  thus  esteem  it,  let  them  do  so.  It  becomes  us  to 
stand  erect  in  faith,  firm  in  purpose,  determined  in  zeal,  immov- 
able, uncompromising,  intrenched  behind  our  impregnable  ram- 
parts of  divine  strength,  intent  only  on  that  sublime  destiny 
which  time  will  assuredly  prove  to  have  been  decreed  to  our 
Community.  Our  only  concern  should  be  to  do  our  duty,  our 
whole  duty,  manfully,  cheerfully,  unfalteringly.  God  will  take 
care  of  the  rest." 

On  looking  back  thirty  years  on  this  fair  exhibit  of  our 
Community  affairs,  the  glowing  hopefulness  which  animated 
my  words,  and  the  confident  assurance  of  the  divine  favor,  I 
cannot  repress  the  sadness  which  subsequent  reverses  and 
ultimate  failure  on  the  eve  of  seeming  triumph  cast  like 
a  dark  shadow  over  my  life.  I  wonder  at  the  enthusi- 
astic rhetoric  in  which  I  arrayed  my  public  addresses  in 
the  face  of  so  many  disappointments  and  drawbacks. 
The  truth  is,  I  was  so  certain  I  was  right  in  principles 
and  aims,  so  largely  endowed  with  the  organ  of  hope, 
and  had  such  a  persistent  will,  that  I  could  not  lie  down 
in  the  furrow  of  weariness  and  disappointment,  nor  cease 
to  paint  my  horizon  with  auroral  hues,  even  when  many 
clouds  were  flitting  across  my  field  of  vision.  But  they 
all  had  a  silver  lining  and  would  be  soon  dissipated  by 
the  rising  sun.  So  holy  and  grand  a  cause  must  surely 
triumph.  Therefore  if  one  form  of  polity  or  mode  of 
administration  or  set  of  coadjutors  failed,  I  resorted  to 
others  and  was  fruitful  of  new  expedients  even  to  the 
last.  And  when  the  inevitable  shipwreck  came,  I  floated 
away  on  the  last  available  plank  of  our  shattered  ark,  and 
have  been  spared  to  tell  the  story  of  our  unfortunate 
venture  and  blasted  expectations  to  succeeding  genera- 


FLUCTUATING   FORTUNES.  155 

tions,  and  bequeath  the  fruits  of  our  sorrowful  experience 
to  a  happier  age.  So  I  proceed  with  my  narrative  which 
has  many  lights  and  shadows  yet  to  be  portrayed. 

The  Year  1846.  It  might  amuse  and  surprise,  if  it  did 
not  instruct,  the  curious  reader  of  these  pages  were  I  to- 
open  still  further  the  casements  of  our  social  establish- 
ment and  point  out  the  movements  of  the  complicated, 
and,  to  an  outside  observer,  perplexing  mechanism  con- 
cealed therein — wheels  succeeding  wheels  and  wheels  within 
wheels  in  elaborate  and  manifold  combination.  But  the 
glimpses  already  permitted  must  suffice.  They  will  convey 
a  reasonably  correct  idea  of  what  existed  and  transpired, 
so  far  as  industrial  organization  and  management  were 
concerned,  for  some  time  to  come.  Only  that  instead  of 
improving  and  running  more  smoothly,  there  seemed  in 
many  directions  to  be  more  friction  and  more  cause  of 
dissatisfaction  with  existing  methods  and  arrangements. 
Unforseeu  difficulties  were  developed  requiring  modification 
of  the  prevailing  policy  or  new  expedients  and  modes  of 
operation.  Instead  of  the  hoped  for  increase  of  industrial 
and  financial  prosperity,  or  at  least  continuance  of  the 
previous  year's  success,  there  was  serious  decline,  result- 
ing in  an  actual  loss  of  several  hundred  dollars  on  our 
invested  capital.  Not  only  were  we  unable  to  pay  divi- 
dends on  labor  as  we  had  fondly  anticipated  but  were 
obliged  to  forego  the  four  per  cent,  returns  to  our  Joint- 
Stock.  This  was  a  state  of  things  exceedingly  disheart- 
ening and  led  us  to  enter  upon  a  rigid  examination  of 
our  affairs  in  order  to  determine  the  cause  or  causes  of 
our  reduced  revenues  that  we  might  remove  or  overcome 
them  and  so  be  put  upon  the  upward  way  again.  Some- 
thing must  be  done  to  render  our  industry  more  efficient 
and  remunerative.  A  careful  inspection  of  the  reports  of 
our  managers  revealed  the  fact  that  the  actual  production 
of  their  several  departments  was  not  what  reasonably 
might  have  been  expected  —  was  not  in  average  proper- 


156  THE   HOPEDALE   COMMUNITY. 

lion  to  the  amount  of  time  credited  for  labor.  This 
demonstrated  either  that  suitable  employment  had  not 
been  assigned  to  our  operatives,  or  that  the  fruit  of  their 
labor  had  not  been  judiciously  husbanded,  or  that  the 
amount  of  time  credited  to  them  had  not  been  produc- 
tively employed.  In  whichever  particular  a  defect  might 
be  found,  or  if  it  should  appear  that  there  existed  some 
defect  in  all  of  them,  it  was  evident  that  measures  should 
be  at  once  taken  to  remedy  it.  This  was  accordingly 
clone  as  will  soon  be  shown. 

Another  weak  spot  in  our  industrial  management  came 
to  light  upon  careful  examination,  and  that  was,  that  the 
services  of  children  and  supernumeraries  had  not  been 
made  to  accrue  as  they  ought  to  the  financial  advantage 
of  the  Community.  It  was  supposed  that  appropriate  and 
remunerative  employment  of  a  sufficient  amount  had  been 
provided  for  these,  but  for  some  reason  or  other  it  had 
not  yielded  satisfactory  returns  to  the  common  treasury, 
and  this  called  for  some  definite  and  wise  action  on  the 
part  of  the  proper  authorities  in  the  case. 

Moreover,  the  year  proved  to  be  one  of  solicitude  and 
trial — nay  of  bereavement  and  distress,  by  reason  of  much 
sickness  within  our  borders.  In  the  late  summer,  fever 
of  a  typhoid  nature  broke  out  in  several  of  our  families, 
causing  great  anxiety  and  much  extra  labor  therein, 
and  awakening  more  or  less  of  apprehension  and  fear 
throughout  our  entire  population.  Three  children  and 
one  adult  died ;  and  a  number  of  other  persons  were 
confined  to  their  beds  for  varying  lengths  of  time,  from 
which  they  arose  mere  shadows  of  their  former  selves, 
returning-  to  their  accustomed  places  and  occupations 
after  a  lingering  convalescence.  This  very  naturally  had 
a  depressing  effect  upon  the  spirits  of  all  of  us,  and 
taxed  to  an  unusual  degree  our  energies,  our  ambition, 
.and  our  hope,  as  it  did  also  our  financial  ability  and 
resources. 


THE   CLOUD   WITH   A   SILVER   LINING.  151 

But  our  numbers  had  suffered  no  diminution  but  rather 
increase,  notwithstanding  the  four  deaths  and  the  removal 
of  one  family,  which  left  us  not  from  any  disaffection, 
but  at  the  call  of  duty  to  minister  to  an  aged  and  infirm 
relative  who  was  in  great  need  of  their  varied  help.  We 
began  the  year  with  eighty-three  members,  dependents, 
and  candidates ;  we  closed  it  with  one  hundred  and  seven. 
Our  Joint-Stock  capital  increased  from  less  than  twelve 
to  more  than  fourteen  thousand  dollars  and  was  soon  to 
be  augmented  several  thousand  more  by  absorbing  the 
credits  due  to  individual  members.  Our  private  capital 
invested  in  dwelling  houses,  landed  improvements,  etc. 
had  increased  proportionally.  We  erected  three  new  fam- 
ily habitations,  a  commodious  shop  for  machinists  and 
blacksmiths  with  a  combined  wash-house  appended,  and 
a  saw-mill  for  the  manufacture  of  lumber  for  home 
and  outside  consumption.  Besides,  some  new  branches 
of  industry  had  been  started,  affording  a  wider  scope  for 
individual  capability,  taste,  and  choice,  and  a  larger 
opportunity  for  remunerative  employment.  At  the  same 
time  we  had  obtained  an  increasing  run  of  custom  from 
the  immediate  neighborhood  and  some  recognized  foothold 
in  the  markets  of  the  general  community.  Our  credit 
was  deservedly  sound  and  satisfactory  in  the  entire  region 
round  about,  and  a  growing  confidence  and  friendliness 
toward  us  was  manifest  on  every  hand.  Furthermore, 
the  laying  out  of  a  much  needed  road  to  the  southward 
of  our  village,  to  be  built  the  following  spring,  opening 
communication  with  people  and  towns  beyond,  gave  prom- 
ise of  advantage  to  our  industrial  interests,  as  did  the 
approaching  completion  of  the  Providence  and  Worcester 
Railroad  to  Blackstone  and  Uxbridge,  and  of  the  branch 
line  from  So.  Framiugham  to  Mil  ford.  So  with  all  our 
disappointments  and  adversities,  we  had  our  encourage- 
ments and  persuasives  to  renewed  diligence,  steadfastness, 
and  zeal  in  our  chosen  work,  and  we  governed  ourselves- 


158  THE   HOPEDALE   COMMUNITY. 

accordingly.  We  certainly  had  no  occasion  by  what  we 
had  experienced  of  ill-fortune,  pecuniary  loss,  or  personal 
and  domestic  bereavement,  to  question  our  own  motives 
and  ambitions,  to  distrust  our  principles  or  the  righteous- 
ness of  our  cause,  or  to  doubt  that  doing  our  duty  as 
we  understood  our  duty,  trusting  in  Him  who  had  thus 
far,  we  believe,  guided  us  on  our  way,  we  should  in  due 
time  be  crowned  with  triumphant  success. 

The  spirit  which  animated  and  cheered  us  as  we  carne 
to  our  Annual  Meeting  on  the  13th  of  January,  1847, 
may  be  learned  from  the  account  of  the  proceedings 
given  in  our  paper,  which  I  quote  entire. 

"  The  Annual  Meeting  of  this  Community  took  place  accord- 
ing to  notification.  It  was  an  interesting,  harmonious,  profita- 
ble occasion.  The  President's  address,  several  reports,  choice 
of  official 'servants,  discussion  of  proposed  measures,  and  busi- 
ness transactions  occupied  most  of  the  afternoon  and  evening. 
Great  unanimity  and  determination  of  mind  prevailed  through- 
out the  proceedings,  and  important  regulations  for  the  improve- 
ment of  our  industrial,  economical,  educational,  and  moral 
affairs  were  adopted.  The  somewhat  untoward  results  of  last 
year's  operations  were  contemplated  without  a  murmur  and 
seemed  to  serve  only  as  a  stimulus  to  more  resolute  and 
judicious  efforts  for  the  future.  It  was  felt  that  it  became  us 
to  bear  with  resignation  the  pecuniary  losses  of  our  great 
sickness,  amounting,  according  to  the  best  estimate  of  all  the 
items  that  ought  to  be  included  in  the  reckoning,  to  at  least 
a  thousand  dollars ;  especially  as  we  had  been  so  greatly  favored 
in  this  respect  during  all  our  previous  years  of  community 
life.  And  as  to  deficiencies  arising  from  injudicious  methods 
of  operation,  imperfect  management,  or  individual  short-com- 
ings, all  seemed  determined  to  enter  vigorously  on  the  work  of 
reform  and  self-improvement.  Whether  we  shall  be  able  to 
give  a  more  cheering  account  of  ourselves  at  the  commence- 
ment of  another  year  remains  among  the  uncertainties  of  the 
future.  But  we  have  the  utmost  confidence  that  the  issue  will 
be  creditable  to  the  Community.  Time  will  show. 

"  The    residents    at    Hopedale,    unwilling    that    non-resident 
stockholders    should    fail    of    their    four    per   cent,    interest   on 


SIXTH    ANNUAL   MEETING.  159 

capital,  instantly  raised  by  private  subscription  the  requisite 
sum  to  pay  them  their  full  dividends.  On  our  own  capital  we 
will  be  content  to  draw  profits  when  the  Joint-Stock  operations 
shall  have  fairly  produced  them.  We  wish  our  stockholding 
friends  residing  outside  of  our  domain,  not  to  construe  this 
eagerness  to  pay  them  their  profits  into  any  distrust  of  their 
generosity  and  confidence,  but  rather  as  a  dictate  of  our  own 
(perhaps  excusable)  pride,  which  prefers  not  to  see  their  inter- 
ests compromised  by  our  misfortunes  or  ill  management.  Most 
of  them  have  been  uniformly  patient,  generous,  and  confiding 
towards  us  —  friends  indeed;  and  we  have  no  reason  to  suppose 
them  changed  for  the  worse. 

"The  official  servants  for  the  current  year  are:  ADIN  BAL- 
LOU,  President  and  Auditor;  EDMUND  SOWARD,  Secretary;  In- 
tendants:  E.  1).  DRAPER,  Finance  and  Exchange;  CLEMENT  O. 
REED,  Manufactures  and  Mechanical  Industry;  HORATIO  EDSON, 
Health  and  Domestic  Economy:  D.  S.  WHITNEY,  Education,  Arts, 
and  Sciences;  WM.  H.  FISH,  Religion,  Morals,  and  Missions. 

"  These  constitute  the  Executive  Council.  The  election  of 
an  Intendant  of  Agriculture  and  Animals  was  postponed  by 
general  consent  to  a  future  meeting,  and  the  Council  were 
instructed  to  supply  the  temporary  vacancy  till  regularly  filled." 

At  this  same  meeting-  a  By-Law  was  enacted  making 
very  radical  changes  in  the  organization  and  government 
of  the  industries  of  the  Community.  Under  its  provisions 
the  operatives  in  each  branch  of  business  were  constituted 
a  co-operative  association  having  a  voice  in  the  control 
of  their  own  distinct  affairs  and  in  the  arrangement  of 
details,  subject  to  the  supervision  of  a  Manager  appointed 
by  the  Executive  Council,  who  was  himself  responsible  to 
the  Council  for  the  faithful  discharge  of  the  duties  of  his 
position  as  specifically  set  forth  in  one  section  of  the 
enactment.  There  was  also  a  set  of  Regulations,  three 
in  number,  adopted,  defining  still  futher  the  obligations 
and  powers  of  the  several  Managers  in  their  respective 
departments  of  official  activity.  And  still  further  a 
Resolve  was  passed  designed  to  regulate  and  make  avail- 
able to  the  profit  of  the  Community,  the  family,  and  the 


OK  THE 

IVERSITY 


160  THE   HOPEDALE   COMMUNITY. 

individuals  concerned,  the  labor  of  the  women  of  each  and 
every  household,  and  all  children  under  twelve  years  of 
age  connected  therewith,  under  a  general  system  of  what 
was  termed  Domestic  Industry.  As  these  acts  of  the 
Community  were  only  tentative  and  of  temporary  service, 
it  is  not  needful  that  they  should  have  a  place  in  these 
pages.  They  could  in  no  proper  sense  be  regarded  as  a 
part  of  the  settled  industrial  policy  of  the  undertaking. 
They  were  soon  superseded,  as  will  be  presently  seen,  by 
others  of  more  permanent  value  and  use. 

Incidents  and  Events  of  1847.  The  Community  started 
out  upon  this  year's  experiences,  notwithstanding  the 
resolute  and  somewhat  elated  tone  of  the  annual  meet- 
ing, under  inauspicious  skies  and  with  wind  and  tide,  so 
far  as  regarded  its  material  interests,  setting  in  the  wrong- 
direction.  Despite  the  determination  to  go  forward  and 
meet  all  annoyances  and  obstructions  with  a  courageous 
heart,  despite  the  new  expedients  that  were  expected  to 
serve  a  good  purpose  in  the  existing  emergency,  things 
went  from  bad  to  worse  —  from  remote  omens  of  coming 
disaster  to  imminent  perils  —  requiring  immediate  atten- 
tion and  a  most  vigorous  and  effective  stroke  of  public 
policy.  The  complexities  and  perplexities  of  the  newly- 
devised  industrial  and  economical  system,  though  appar- 
ently judicious  in  itself,  and  though  operated  with  as 
much  consideration  as  seemed  possible,  interfered  practi- 
cally so  much  with  individual  tastes,  feelings,  and  wills, 
that  murmurs  of  dissatisfaction  and  even  of  revolt  became 
at  length  so  frequent  and  so  bitter  as  to  embarrass  and 
obstruct  the  orderly  and  efficient  management  of  our  busi- 
ness activities.  We  still  had  among  our  workmen  and 
operatives  too  many  persons  both  unaccustomed  and  indis- 
posed to  methodical  habits  of  industry  and  regularity  of 
action  in  any  direction  —  too  many  undisciplined  recruits 
in  our  industrial  army  —  persons  unfitted  by  lack  of  sagac- 
ity and  training,  by  their  loose  and  heterogeuous  ways,  to- 


ANNOYANCES    AND    IRRITATIONS.  161 

render  service  satisfactorily  in  decently  managed  estab- 
lishments anywhere  in  the  world.  They  failed  to  observe 
proper  hours,  to  care  for  their  tools  or  implements,  to 
execute  nice  work,  and  in  general  to  conform  to  the 
necessary  conditions  of  success  in  their  respective  call- 
ings. In  the  matter  of  domestic  supplies  and  culinary 
tastes,  they  were  equally  eccentric,  fitful,  and  unreason- 
able. The  most  salutary  rules,  the  most  wisely  arranged 
plans,  the  most  indispensable  requirements,  with  such, 
availed  nothing.  They  were  not  respected  and  could 
not  be  enforced  to  any  such  extent  as  would  make  it 
pleasant  in  any  voluntary,  co-equal,  fraternal  association. 
Under  such  circumstances,  both  managers  and  managed 
were  annoyed,  irritated,  disgusted.  And  though,  for  a 
time,  most  of  them  suppressed  their  real  feelings  and 
uttered  no  word  of  remonstrance  or  complaint,  yet  the 
trouble  existed  and  was  destined  sooner  or  later  to  come 
out ;  at  first  occasionally  and  mildly  perhaps,  but  after- 
wards more  frequently  and  emphatically,  and  in  time  with 
displays  of  ill-will  and  bitterness. 

This  state  of  things  was  not  calculated  to  increase  the 
felicity  of  our  Community  paradise.  And  neither  legisla- 
tion nor  official  interposition  could  afford  relief  in  the 
matter.  The  difficulty  was  not  in  the  intention  or  purpose 
of  those  more  immediately  implicated.  They  meant  no 
wrong  and  no  harm.  As  a  rule  they  were  animated  by 
worthy  motives  and  exemplified  many  excellent  traits  of 
character.  Else  we  could  have  summoned  them  to  answer 
for  their  faults  before  the  Community  tribunal,  and,  if 
need  be,  cut  them  off  from  our  fellowship.  But  their 
virtue  saved  them  from  such  a  fate.  The  preponderance* 
of  honesty,  integrity,  kindness  of  heart,  honor,  in  them! 
made  us  all  slow  to  condemn  them,  slow  to  institute  stern 
measures  against  them.  And  so  the  difficulty  remained 
and  increased,  affecting  more  and  more  unfavorably  thoses 
directly  involved,  and  causing  unrest  and  disquiet  gen-. 

11 


162  THE   HOPEDALE   COMMUNITY. 

erally  within  our  boundaries.  Even  the  more  unexcep- 
tionable in  the  respects  indicated,  the  more  orderly  and 
carefully  trained  and  thoroughly  disciplined,  could  not  but 
be  affected  and  disturbed  by  the  annoyances  and  vexations 
referred  to.  I  myself  walked  miles  upon  miles  and  spent 
days  and  weeks  in  looking  after  things  that  were  lost,  in 
putting  to  rights  things  that  were  displaced,  in  bringing 
order  out  of  confusion,  by  reason  of  the  thoughtlessness, 
neglect,  slovenly  ways,  and  general  lack  of  responsibility 
on  the  part  of  those  whom  I  have  portrayed.  Under  such 
circumstances,  the  more  thoughtful  and  far-seeing  must 
have  realized  that  a  crisis  in  our  affairs  could  not  be  far 
away  —  that  there  must  ere  long  be  a  recasting  of  our 
policy,  a  re-adjustment  of  industrial  methods,  and  a  new 
regime  established.  This  in  the  very  nature  of  things 
was  a  foregone  conclusion.  But  before  it  was  reached 
certain  events  occurred  of  considerable  importance  which 
were  calculated  to  embarrass  still  more  the  situation  and 
hasten  the  impending  crisis. 

The  first  of  these,  and  the  precursor  or  occasion  of 
some  of  the  others,  was  the  voluntary  retirement  from  our 
midst  of  our  esteemed  brother  and  efficient  co-laborer, 
Joseph  Kiugmau.  who  came  to  us  from  West  Bridgewater 
and  who  proposed  returning  thither.  He  had  not  formally 
joined  our  membership  nor  was  he  even  a  probationer  of 
the  Community.  But  he  had  been  from  the  outset  an 
adherent  of  our  distinctive  ideas  and  principles  and  a 
sympathetic  friend  of  our  movement.  So  much  interested 
was  he  in  it  and  so  much  inclined  to  cast  in  his  lot  with 
us,  that  he  had  solicited  and  obtained  the  privilege  of 
residence  on  our  domain  in  order  to  become  better 
acquainted  with  us  and  make  trial  of  our  polity  and 
social  status.  When  he  came,  he  fully  expected  to 
become  one  of  us,  and  very  soon  selected  a  house-lot  for 
a  permanent  residence.  He  was  a  man  of  intelligence, 
sound  practical  judgment,  high  moral  character,  and  con- 


A   MUCH   REGRETTED   DEPARTURE.  163 

genial  social  qualities.  He  possessed  a  respectable  prop- 
perty  and  could  be  a  much-to-be-desired  help  in  that 
respect.  In  short,  he  combined  in  himself  every  qualifi- 
cation almost  that  would  render  him  a  very  useful  and 
influential  coadjutor  in  our  work.  We  reposed  great 
confidence  in  him,  sought  his  counsel  on  many  important 
measures,  and  made  him  pro  tempore  Inteudaut  of  Agri- 
culture and  Animals.  We  had  come  to  regard  him  and 
his  family  as  an  extraordinarily  desirable  acquisition  to 
our  fellowship.  But  he  was  not  satisfied  with  the  practi- 
cal working  of  our  industrial  system  and  the  condition 
of  things  under  it,  and  felt  that  he  could  not  be  contented 
and  happy  in  our  midst  —  that  he  could  do  more  good, 
fill  a  wider  sphere  of  usefulness  in  the  world,  exert  a 
more  salutary  influence,  and  find  greater  enjoyment,  in 
his  native  town  and  vicinity  than  he  would  if  he  remained 
permanently  with  us.  He  therefore  signified  his  intention 
of  leaving  Hopedale  in  the  mouth  of  February,  and  a  few 
weeks  later  bade  us  farewell.  Our  loss  was  great,  and 
our  sorrow  heartfelt. 

This  left  our  Agricultural  department  without  a  man- 
ager at  the  opening  of  the  most  busy  season  of  the  year. 
The  springtime  was  at  hand.  Work  on  the  large  Com- 
munity farm  was  abundant  and  urgent.  All  the  village 
gardens  had  claims  for  plowing  and  enrichment.  Several 
cellars  for  new  dwellings  were  to  be  dug  and  stoned. 
Moreover,  a  contract  had  been  made  to  fell  and  clear  off 
the  wood  and  timber  on  a  ten  acre  lot  in  the  vicinity 
before  a  certain  day  in  early  summer.  These  and  many 
incidental  labors  devolved  upon  this  department  and  were 
demanding  immediate  attention.  And  now  by  the  removal  of 
Br.  Kingman  it  had  lost  its  executive  head,  and  there  was  not 
a  man  in  all  our  subordinate  ranks  whom  the  Council  could 
appoint  to  fill  the  vacant  place.  What  was  to  be  done? 

At  this  juncture  of   affairs  I  consented,  as  I  had  been 
wont  to  do  before  in  similar  exigencies,  to  take  the  man- 


164  THE   HOPEDALE   COMMUNITY. 

agemeut  of  the  interests  involved  into  my  own  hands. 
This  was  more  generous  than  wise,  for  I  was  already 
overtasked,  loaded  down  with  manifold  labors  of  various 
sort,  at  home  and  abroad,  by  day  and  by  night.  But  I 
addressed  myself  to  the  responsibilities  of  the  position 
with  all  the  ardor  and  zeal  I  could  command,  which,  in 
addition  to  my  other  cares  as  preacher,  lecturer,  editor, 
and  President  of  the  Community,  soon  exhausted  my 
physical  energies,  impaired  my  usual  mental  buoyancy,  and 
seriously  threatened  an  utter  collapse  of  my  entire  system. 

Meanwhile  there  was  a  gradual  demoralization  going 
on  in  all  directions,  among  all  grades  of  our  Community 
forces.  The  unrest,  irritation,  and  discontent,  under  our 
general  industrial  policy  already  adverted  to,  increased 
continually  and  assumed  more  menacing  forms.  Financial 
resources  were  running  low.  More  money  was  needed 
than  could  be  easily  obtained.  Our  expenditures  exceeded 
our  income.  To  meet  the  demands  made  upon  us,  we 
had  to  fall  back  upon  one  of  our  more  fortunate  mem- 
bers, who  was  engaged  in  business  outside  of  Community 
jurisdiction  that  yielded  him  a  sufficient  revenue  to  enable 
him  to  help  us  in  every  emergency  by  additional  subscrip- 
tions to  our  Joint-Stock.  He  had  already  become  the 
largest  investor  in  such  stock.  While  his  kindness  and 
generosity  were  duly  appreciated  as  rendering  us  a  most 
indispensable  service,  it  was  generally  felt  that  it  was  by 
no  means  a  healthy  state  of  affairs  which  made  it  neces- 
sary for  us  to  call  for  or  receive  the  aid  he  was  so 
willing  to  give. 

And  so  in  many  a  quarter  the  elements  were  fomenting 
and  conspiring,  unconsciously  perhaps  in  some  instances, 
to  bring  on  a  crisis  —  to  compel  a  readjustment  of  the 
different  parts  of  our  social  machinery  —  to  necessitate 
the  adoption  of  new  and  more  harmonious,  effective,  and 
satisfactory  methods  of  administration.  Measures  of  relief, 
plans  of  action,  devices  of  many  a  kind,  were  offered 


ORIGINAL   CONSTITUTION   SUPERSEDED.  165 

and  discussed  between  individuals,  in  private  circles,  by 
the  Executive  Council,  and  at  regular  Community  meet- 
ings. But  nothing  definite  was  done ;  no  final  conclusion 
for  some  time  reached. 

After  much  fruitless  talk,  and  long  deliberative  sittings 
which  accomplished  nothing,  it  was  at  length  felt  by  a 
sort  of  common  instinct,  and  determined  by  common  con- 
sent, that  the  elaborate,  complicated,  overgrown  mechanism 
under  which,  with  repeated  modifications,  eliminations,  and 
additions,  we  had  been  living  and  operating  from  the  very 
beginning  should  be  abandoned  altogether,  and  that  we 
should  build  anew  our  social  edifice  from  the  bed-rock 
foundation  of  our  Preamble  and  Declaration  in  a  more 
simple,  direct,  laconic,  unpretending,  comprehensible  fash- 
ion, and  order  all  our  activities  and  operations  accord- 
ingly. And  so  with  little  more  ado  we  proceeded  to  set 
aside  the  original  Constitution  of  the  Community,  with  all 
the  By-Laws,  Regulations,  Rules,  Resolves,  and  arrange- 
ments then  in  force,  and  to  reconstruct  the  entire  concern 
after  a  new  and  altogether  untried  model.  On  the  17th 
of  July  this  work  of  reconstruction  was  inaugurated  and 
put  in  process  of  practical  development  by  the  adoption 
of  the  following 

«  CONSTITUTION. 

"In  order  to  establish  a  state  of  society  governed  by  divine 
moral  principles,  with  as  little  as  possible  of  mere  human  con- 
straint, in  which  all  the  members  may  be  perfectly  free  to 
associate  or  separate  their  secular  interests  according  to  incli- 
nation and  congeniality,  but  in  which  no  individual  shall 
suffer  the  evils  of  oppression,  poverty,  ignorance,  or  vice, 
through  the  influence  or  neglect  of  others,  we,  whose  names 
are  hereunto  subscribed,  do  unite  in  a  voluntary  association  to 
be  called 

"THE   HOPEDALE   COMMUNITY. 

"ARTICLE  I. 

"  SECTION  1.  No  person  shall  be  a  member  of  this  Commu- 
nity who  does  cordially  assent  to  the  following 


166  THE   HOPEDALE   COMMUNITY. 

"DECLARATION. 

"I  believe  in  the  religion  of  Jesus  Christ  as  he  taught  and 
exemplified  it  according  to  the  Scriptures  of  the  New  Testa- 
ment. I  acknowledge  myself  a  bounden  subject  of  all  its 
moral  obligations.  Especially  do  I  hold  myself  bound  by  its 
holy  requirements,  never,  under  any  pretext  whatsoever,  to 
kill,  assault,  beat,  torture,  enslave,  rob,  oppress,  persecute,, 
defraud,  corrupt,  slander,  revile,  injure,  envy,  or  hate  any 
human  being — even  my  worst  enemy;  never  in  any  manner 
to  violate  the  dictates  of  pure  chastity;  never  to  take  or 
administer  an  oath;  never  to  manufacture,  buy,  sell,  deal  outy 
or  use  any  intoxicating  liquor  as  a  beverage;  never  to  serve  in 
the  army,  navy,  or  militia  of  any  Nation,  State,  or  Chieftain; 
never  to  bring  an  action  at  law,  hold  office,  vote,  join  in  a 
legal  posse,  petition  a  legislature,  or  ask  governmental  inter- 
position, in  ang  case  involving  a  final  authorized  resort  to  physical 
violence;  never  to  indulge  self-will,  bigotry,  love  of  pre-eminence, 
covetousness,  deceit,  profanity,  idleness,  or  an  unruly  tongue ; 
never  to  participate  in  lotteries,  games  of  chance,  betting,  or 
pernicious  amusements;  never  to  resent  reproof  or  justify 
myself  in  a  known  wrong;  never  to  aid,  abet,  or  approve 
others  in  anything  sinful;  but  through  divine  assistance  always 
to  recommend  and  promote  with  my  entire  influence  the 
holiness  and  happiness  of  all  mankind. 

"  SEC.  2.  Any  person  assenting  to  the  foregoing  Declaration 
and  recommended  in  writing  by  seven  members  as  sponsors, 
may  be  admitted  into  the  membership  of  this  Community  by 
vote  at  any  regular  meeting,  provided  he  or  she  shall  there- 
upon subscribe  this  Constitution. 

"SEC.  3.  Any  person  may  resign  membership  at  discretion 
by  entering  a  minute  on  the  Records  to  that  effect. 

"SEC.  4.  Any  unworthy  member  may  be  discharged  at  any 
regular  meeting  by  a  vote  requesting  him  or  her  to  resign. 

"  SEC.  5.  Any  meeting  reasonably  notified  in  respect  to 
time,  place,  and  leading  subjects  of  consideration,  shall  be 
deemed  regular. 

"  SEC.  6.  Every  member  shall  have  one  and  but  one  vote 
on  all  questions,  and  the  concurrence  of  two-thirds  of  the 
members  present  and  acting  shall  be  necessary  to  the  decision 
of  every  question. 

"SEC.  7.     Nine  members  shall   constitute  a  quorum. 


A   NEW   CONSTITUTION.  167 

ARTICLE  II. 

"SECTION  1.  The  members  of  this  Community  shall  own 
and  manage  such  real  and  movable  estate  in  the  Joint-Stock 
Proprietorship  as  they  may  deem  necessary  to  the  maintenance 
of  a  neighborhood  exclusively  inhabited  and  controlled  by 
persons  honestly  endeavoring  to  conform  to  the  principles  of 
the  foregoing  Declaration.  And  no  person  habitually  setting 
at  nought  those  principles  shall  permanently  reside  within  the 
territorial  limits  of  the  Community  by  public  consent. 

"  SEC.  2.  This  Joint-Stock  property  shall  consist  of  shares 
of  the  value  of  fifty  dollars  each,  for  which  the  owner  shall 
hold  Certificates  responsibly  signed  in  the  form  following,  to 
wit: 

"For  value  received,  A.  B.  or  order  is  hereby  entitled  to 
shares  in  the  Joint-Stock  property  of  the  Hopedale  Com- 
munity valued  at dollars,  together  with  such  dividends  as 

may  from  time  to  time  be  declared  thereon. 

"  SEC.  3.  The  general  management,  safe  keeping,  and  dis- 
posal of  this  Joint-Stock  property  shall  be  vested  in  a  Board 
of  Trustees  consisting  of  not  less  than  three  nor  more  than 
five  responsible  members  of  the  Community  chosen  for  that 
purpose. 

"SEC.  4.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  this  Board  of  Trustees  to 
sell  off,  rent  out,  or  improve,  under  their  official  superintend- 
ence, the  Joint-Stock  property  in  such  a  manner  as  to  afford, 
if  possible,  every  individual  belonging  to  the  Community  a 
fair  opportunity  to  realize  the  objects  of  this  Association,  and 
at  the  same  time  to  secure  to  the  Stockholders  unimpaired 
their  capital,  with  a  clear  annual  profit  thereon  of  four  per  cent. 

"  SEC.  5.  Any  accidental  excess  of  profits  on  the  Joint- 
Stock  capital  over  the  said  four  per  cent,  shall  be  devoted  to 
educational  purposes  for  the  benefit  of  the  Community. 

"SEC.  6.  The  Board  of  Trustees  shall  have  power  to  lay 
out  and  improve  the  Village  Site,  to  open  and  keep  in  order 
streets,  commons,  and  cemeteries,  and  to  sell  house-lots  to 
members  who  will  come  under  obligations  that  such  lots  with 
all  their  buildings  and  betterments  shall  revert  to  the  Joint- 
Stock  Proprietorship  at  a  fair  appraisal  whenever  the  same 
shall  cease  to  be  owned  within  the  membership  of  this  Com- 
munity or  be  perverted  to  uses  obviously  repugnant  to  the 
principles  of  the  foregoing  Declaration. 


168  THE   HOPEDALE   COMMUNITY. 

"SEC.  7.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  Board  of  Trustees  to 
keep  accurate  accounts  and  permanent  records  of  their  official 
transactions,  and  to  hold  their  books  always  subject  to  the 
inspection  of  any  member  or  stockholder  who  may  desire  to 
examine  them.  And  they  shall  present  to  the  Community  an 
explicit  report  of  the  Joint-Stock  finances  at  least  once  every 
year. 

ARTICLE  III. 

"  SECTION  1.  This  Community  shall  elect  a  Recorder  to 
serve  during  mutual  satisfaction,  and  may  from  time  to  time 
appoint  such  other  officers  as  occasion  shall  require. 

"  SEC.  2.  Legislation  and  government  shall  be  confined  to 
matters  of  obvious  public  necessity  and  never  be  brought  into 
conflict  with  the  declared  objects  and  fundamental  principles 
of  this  Association. 

ARTICLE  IV. 

"  Ail  the  titles  of  property  and  all  obligations  entered  into 
respecting  the  same  under  the  Constitution  and  By-Laws  of 
Fraternal  Community  No.  1,  as  may  in  any  wise  appear  from 
records  or  documents,  shall  be  held  inviolate  under  this  Con- 
stitution. 

ARTICLE  V. 

"  This  Constitution  may  be  altered  or  amended  by  two- 
thirds  of  the  members  present  and  acting  at  any  regular 
meeting  of  the  Community  notified  for  that  purpose." 

This  Constitution  was  published  in  The  Practical  Chris- 
tian of  August  7th,  accompanied  by  a  detailed  statement 
of  the  reasons  for  the  radical  change  in  the  disposition 
and  management  of  our  secular  affairs  which  it  was 
designed  and  calculated  to  effect,  or  at  least  to  make 
possible.  Experience  had  brought  the  more  practically 
sagacious  and  responsible  of  our  members  to  the  convic- 
tion that  it  was  impossible  to  attain  the  objects  contem- 
plated by  our  association  and  most  ardently  sought  after 
by  us  under  the  former  arrangement  and  mode  of  admin- 
istration. "We  had  tried  to  escape  certain  dangers  that 
threatened  us  from  different  quarters  by  a  variety  of 


OPINIONS   OF   THE   CHANGE.  169 

devices  which  involved  us  in  others  of  equal  or  greater 
moment  in  an  opposite  direction.  The  more  enterprising, 
reliable,  and  efficient  among  us,  to  whom  was  entrusted 
the  conduct  of  manifold  secular  affairs  were  overloaded 
with  care,  anxiety,  and  excessive  toil,  and  embarrassed 
by  complex  managementa!  machinery,  multifarious  coun- 
sel, adverse  criticism,  and  tardy,  half-hearted  co-operation. 
While  others  less  capable  of  planning,  directing,  and 
executing,  were  becoming  less  submissive  to  orderly 
methods,  less  contented  and  happy.  The  change  was 
therefore  not  simply  desirable  or  expedient,  but  indispen- 
sable —  indispensable  to  our  harmony  and  prosperity, 
and  indispensable  to  our  continued  existence.  Without 
it  we  should  have  gone  to  pieces. 

As  it  was,  the  word  went  abroad  and  was  heralded  far 
and  wide  that  the  Community  had  virtually  come  to  an 
end,  been  wrecked,  exploded,  disappeared  altogether  from 
among  the  things  of  earth  and  time.  One  well-meaning 
brother  with  strong  leanings  to  the  dead-level  Communism 
of  Robert  Owen,  who  had  come  to  us  from  New  Bruns- 
wick expecting  to  enjoy  here  the  beatitude  of  a  renewed 
garden  of  Eden,  gave  vent  to  his  ill-temper  and  disgust 
at  what  had  transpired  in  a  crisp  notice  of  withdrawal 
from  our  no  longer  agreeable  fellowship,  of  which  the 
following  is  a  copy  : 

"  As  the  Fraternal  Community,  No.  1,  of  Hopedale,  although 
a  mongrel  from  the  beginning,  has  ceased  to  be  —  is  dead; 
but  professes  to  be  a  Community,  which  is  too  bad  —  too 
barefaced  to  be  thought  of  for  a  moment;  —  therefore  I  can 
have  no  fellowship  with  it,  but  call  for  what  means  I  have 
here  to  be  paid  as  soon  as  possible  so  that  I  can  remove  as 
soon  as  health  will  permit. 

"Hopedale,  Aug.  13,  1847.  JOHN  HILL." 

Similar  ebullitions  of  a  contemptuous  spirit  mingled 
with  pride  and  exultation  burst  forth  here  and  there  in 
the  outside  world  among  the  bigoted  sectarists  whose 


170  THE   HOPEDALE   COMMUNITY. 

pseudo-piety  and  anti-Christianity  were  rebuked  by  an 
institution  claiming  to  make  the  principles  of  the  Gospel 
supreme  in  all  human  relations  and  concerns,  as  well  as 
from  the  vulgar  and  godless  crowd  to  whom  the  simple 
practical  precepts  of  the  sermon  on  the  mount  were  as 
unintelligible  and  meaningless  as  the  hieroglyphics  of  the 
Nile.  To  these  carping  critics  of  every  grade  and  name, 
I  made  what  I  deemed  a  fitting  response  in  our  paper 
of  October  2,  under  the  ironical  caption  "-Another  Humbug 
Exploded,"  which,  however,  I  coined  from  the  current 
disparaging,  captious,  literature  of  our  over-jubilant 
adversaries  at  the  time.  The  article  need  not  be  quoted 
here  as  its  contents  are  not  essential  to  the  purposes  of 
this  volume,  but  the  interested  and  curious  are  referred 
to  the  issue  of  The  Practical  Christian  named,  to  be 
found  in  the  Hopedale  Public  Library. 

It  will  have  been  observed  that  in  the  re-construction 
of  our  social  edifice  the  name  by  which  we  had  been 
designated  as  an  independent  body  from  the  beginning, 
Fraternal  Community,  No.  1,  was  superseded  by  The 
Hopedale  Community,  which  we  were  destined  to  bear 
ever  afterward.  This  was  done  in  the  interest  of  greater 
directness  and  simplicity.  Our  original  scheme,  in  its 
over-confident  comprehensiveness,  provided  for  an  indefinite 
number  of  Communities,  scattered  far  and  wide  through- 
out the  land  and  world,  which  were  to  be  co-ordinated 
and  organically  united  in  a  great  ecumenical  federation 
styled  "The  Practical  Christian  Communion,"  of  which 
each  Community  was  an  integral,  subordinate  part,  with 
certain  rights,  privileges,  and  immunities  distinctively  its- 
own.  (See  page  27.)  We  had  now  come  to  the  conchP1 
sion  that  we  had  attempted  to  build  on  too  large  a  scale ;. ' 
that  it  were  the  part  of  wisdom  to  be  more  modest  in 
our  pretensions  and  claims ;  that  it  were  better  for  us 
with  our  limited  resources  of  men  and  means,  and  with 
our  none  too  large  equipment  of  moral  and  spiritual 


NEW   REGIME   INAUGURATED.  171 

ammunition,  to  confine  our  ambition  and  our  efforts  for 
the  present  to  our  own  single  experiment,  and  to  address 
ourselves  chiefly  if  not  wholly  to  the  task  of  carrying  that 
forward  to  an  ultimate  triumphant  and  universally  acknowl- 
edged success.  And  as  a  step  —  the  first  step  perhaps 
in  the  line  of  that  policy  —  we  deemed  it  advisable  to 
count  ourselves  no  longer  the  initial  or  head  of  a  vast 
procession  of  regenerated  social  enterprises,  placarding 
that  assumption  on  the  very  frontlet  of  our  petty  under- 
taking, but  to  stand  in  our  own  lot,  independent  and 
unrelated,  attending  to  our  own  duties,  working  out  our 
own  destiny,  under  our  own  unpretentious,  proper  name, 
"The  Hopedale  Community,"  leaving  all  succeeding  move- 
ments in  the  same  behalf  to  the  efforts  of  other  laborers 
in  the  vineyard  of  the  Lord,  to  the  activities  of  a  wiser 
and  better  future,  and  to  the  beneficent  providence  of 
Almighty  God. 

Under  the  newly  adopted  Constitution,  a  Board  of 
Trustees  consisting  of  Adiu  Ballon,  E.  D.  Draper,  Hora- 
tio Edson,  and  Almou  Thwing,  was  immediately  elected 
to  take  the  place  of  the  old  Executive  Council  in  the 
general  conduct  of  secular  affairs,  their  term  of  service 
expiring  at  the  next  Annual  Meeting,  Jan.  12,  1848. 
Daniel  S.  Whitney  was  chosen  Recorder  for  the  same 
period.  The  Trustees  entered  at  once  upon  the  discharge 
of  the  difficult  duties  to  which  they  were  called.  They 
organized  on  the  same  day  they  were  chosen  by  making 
ADIN  BALLOU,  President;  ALMON  THWING.  Secretary;  and 
E.  D.  DRAPER,  Treasurer;  and  voted  to  appraise  such 
property  of  the  Community  as  might  be  rented  or  sold 
for  the  common  benefit.  They  also  decided  that  the  new 
industrial  regime  should  go  into  operation  on  Monday, 
the  26th  inst.,  nine  days  afterward.  Meanwhile  they  sold 
outright  the  printing  press,  stock,  and  fixtures,  to  Adin 
Ballon ;  the  card-setting  machines,  stock,  and  appliances, 
to  Clement  O.  Read ;  the  stock  and  tools  of  the  boot 


172  THE   HOPEDALE   COMMUNITY. 

and  shoe  department,  to  David  Beal ;  the  transportation 
business,  including  horses,  carriages,  and  appurtenances, 
to  Charles  H.  Price ;  the  painting  and  glazing  department 
with  its  belongings,  to  Samuel  S.  Brown ;  the  medical 
department  with  its  dues,  to  Butler  Wilmarth,  M.  D.  ; 
and  The  Practical  Christian  with  its  subscription  list  and 
what  was  owing  thereon,  also  to  Adiu  Ballou.  The 
mechanic  shop  with  its  machinery  and  fixtures,  they 
rented  for  a  definite  period  to  Horatio  Edson ;  the  saw- 
mill and  fixtures,  to  E.  D.  Draper;  the  machine  shop, 
etc.,  to  Almon  Thwiug  and  Joseph  B.  Bancroft.  The 
farm  they  retained  for  their  own  general  management  by 
the  appointment  of  a  proper  agent  or  overseer,  also  the 
Community  store.  A  few  members  or  approved  residents 
carried  on  business  on  their  own  account. 

Soon  afterward  steps  were  taken  to  have  the  Commu- 
nity shops  and  other  buildings  with  their  contents  insured, 
and  Adiu  Ballou  was  chosen  a  committee  to  complete  the 
laying  out,  plotting,  and  numbering  of  the  cemetery  lots, 
and  to  put  everything  pertaining  thereto  into  proper  and 
permanent  form,  agreeably  to  the  orders  passed  some  two 
years  before.  Certain  new  roads  were  laid  out  and  sub- 
mitted to  the  authorities  of  the  town  of  Milford  for 
acceptance  as  public  highways ;  and  some  pieces  of  old 
road  rendered  needless  thereby  were  discontinued. 

Flowage  Complaints.  Two  of  our  neighbors,  Mr.  Eli 
Chapiu  on  the  north  and  Mr.  Nathaniel  Bennett  on  the 
south,  complained  of  the  injury  done  to  their  lands  by 
reason  of  the  Community  mills  and  the  dams  connected 
therewith,  both  of  the  parties  placing  the  damages  at 
what  we  deemed  an  unreasonably  high  figure.  The  con- 
tention of  the  former  was  that  the  water  in  our  upper 
pond  submerged  a  considerable  tract  of  valuable  meadow, 
killing  out  the  grass  and  working  harm  to  the  growth  of 
small  wood  along  its  borders.  That  of  the  latter  was 
that  the  saw-dust,  shavings,  and  other  refuse  matter,  were 


AGGRIEVED   NEIGHBORS.  173' 

floated  down  stream  from  our  shops  and  lodged  011  his 
premises  along  the  banks,  to  his  serious  annoyance  and 
detriment.  Adin  Ballou  and  E.  D.  Draper  were  chosen 
a  Committee  to  see  the  parties  and  effect  if  possible  a 
settlement,  either  by  the  purchase  of  the  lauds  or  by 
satisfactory  pecuniary  indemnification.  Friendly  negotia- 
tions were  opened  with  Mr.  Chapiii  and  an  amicable 
arrangement  was  made  with  very  little  difficulty  —  the  land 
in  question,  some  ten  acres,  being  purchased  by  us  at  a 
price  mutually  acceptable.  We  were  less  fortunate  with 
our  other  neighbor,  Mr.  Bennett.  We  had  some  time 
before  tried  to  buy  his  land  but  he  was  unwilling  to  sell. 
We  had  offered  him  peace-money,  believing  that  he  had 
suffered  no  real  loss,  but  he  refused  to  take  it.  We  had 
then  agreed  to  leave  the  matter  to  three  referees,  allow- 
ing him  virtually  the  choice  of  persons.  We  now  met 
the  referees  with  him,  each  party  presenting  its  side  of 
the  case.  The  decision  was  that  he  had  no  claim  against 
us.  Though  in  honor  bound  to  accept  it,  he  refused,  and 
the  difficulty  remained  a  cause  of  irritation  and  vexation 
for  several  years  afterward.  Another  reference  and  its- 
award  resulted  in  our  obtaining  possession  of  the  territory 
involved. 

Hopedale  Juvenile  Community.  Early  in  the  year  now 
being  reviewed  there  was  effected  at  my  suggestion  and 
with  my  assistance  an  organization  among  our  older  and 
more  mature  boys  bearing  the  above  somewhat  ostenta- 
tious designation.  The  occasion  of  this  action  was  that 
considerable  disquietude  had  arisen  among  this  class  of 
our  population  and  some  of  their  seniors,  on  account  of 
their  irregular  employment  when  out  of  school,  and  fre- 
quent complaints  of  their  lawless  ways  and  growing  disre- 
gard of  proper  authority.  As  they  were  always  respectful 
toward  me  and  ready  to  listen  to  my  advice,  I  called 
them  together  for  consultation  upon  the  matter,  proposing 
to  them  a  scheme  for  employing  themselves  in  some  effec- 


174  THE   HOPEDALE   COMMUNITY. 

tive  way  when  not  otherwise  engaged.  They  readily 
assented  and  an  association  was  formed  accordingly, 
duly  officered,  and  put  in  working  order.  Several  acres 
of  land  for  gardening  and  tillage  were  set  apart  for  their 
use  and  other  facilities  granted  as  an  encouragement  in 
their  undertaking.  The  project  worked  well  and  happily 
for  a  few  years,  fulfilling  all  reasonable  expectations  and 
then  passing  away  amid  the  fluctuations  with  which  we 
were  unescapably  beset. 

Hopedale  School  District.  Two  or  three  years  after  the 
•settlement  at  Hopedale  application  was  made  to  the  town 
of  Milford,  to  whose  taxable  property  we  were  making 
substantial  annual  contribution,  for  some  act  on  its  part 
whereby  we  might  receive  a  portion  of  the  money  we  paid 
into  its  treasury  to  aid  us  in  the  education  of  our  chil- 
dren under  our  own  management,  or  be  set  off  as  a 
separate  school  district,  with  such  restrictions  as  should 
be  just  and  equitable  in  respect  to  all  concerned.  A 
vote  was  passed  to  return  us  three  fourths  of  the  amount 
of  our  taxes,  as  nearly  as  it  could  be  ascertained.  At 
a  subsequent  meeting  the  vote  was  rescinded  on  the 
ground  that  it  was  illegal  to  disburse  school  money  in 
any  way  except  to  regularly  constituted  school  districts. 
Several  attempts  were  afterward  made  in  the  same  behalf, 
but  to  no  effective  purpose.  At  length  in  the  autumn  of 
the  year  now  in  review  a  new  petition  was  presented  to 
the  town,  asking  that  the  village  of  Hopedale  and  the 
surrounding  territory  within  certain  limits  with  the  inhabi- 
tants dwelling  thereon  might  be  set  off  as  a  district  by 
itself  for  educational  purposes,  agreeably  to  the  established 
forms  of  law.  The  question  of  granting  the  request 
came  up  for  consideration  at  a  meeting  held  Nov.  22d, 
when,  after  a  lengthy  discussion  in  which  I  as  represent- 
ative of  the  Community  took  part,  it  was  decided  in  the 
affirmative  by  a  very  large  majority,  thus  consummating 
a  long-delayed  act  of  justice  to  a  peaceable,  law-abiding, 


THE   PRACTICAL   CHRISTIAN.  175 

and  every  way  honorable  portion  of  its  population.  Our 
entire  Community  truly  appreciated  this  token  of  friend- 
liness on  the  part  of  their  fellow-townsmen  and  lost  no 
favorable  opportunity  of  reciprocating  the  same. 

As  a  matter  of  personal  interest  to  myself  and  for  the 
general  information  of  my  readers,  I  may  say  that  The 
Practical  Christian  and  everything  appertaining  thereto, 
as  before  indicated,  came  with  the  new  regime  into  my 
sole  and  individual  possession,  and  that  thereafter  for  a 
time  I  had  the  management,  not  only  of  the  editorial 
department  but  of  its  publication  and  financial  interests, 
entirely  in  my  own  hands.  Yet  I  was  always  disposed 
and  happy  to  give  place  in  its  columns  to  the  contribu- 
tions of  my  ministerial  brethren  and  former  associates  on 
its  staff  of  writers,  as  I  was  to  other  reputable  corre- 
spondents at  home  or  abroad,  even  though  they  played 
the  part  of  critics  and  detractors  of  myself  personally  or 
of  the  cause  which  I  felt  myself  called  upon  to  uphold  and 
defend.  Having  been  relieved  for  the  most  part  of  those 
secular  cares  and  labors  which  for  some  months  had  en- 
gaged so  much  of  my  time  and  attention  and  which  came 
near  crushing  me  utterly,  I  was  in  a  position  to  devote 
myself  more  exclusively,  as  was  my  desire,  to  the  general 
service  of  my  fellow-men,  by  the  proclamation  of  the 
great  principles  of  Practical  Christianity  far  and  wide  as 
possible  through  the  press,  the  pulpit,  and  the  lecture 
platform,  and  by  urging  their  application  to  all  the 
activities  and  relationships  of  human  life.  To  the  labors 
thus  opened  anew  to  me  I  addressed  myself  with  all  the 
diligence,  single-miudness,  and  enthusiasm  I  could  com- 
mand. 

The  year  1847  was  one  of  general  health  on  our  Com- 
munity domain,  although  one  of  our  number,  Mrs.  Abigail 
Draper  Cook,  wife  of  Br.  Wm.  W.  Cook,  who  had  never 
been  vigorous  and  strong,  fell  into  a  confirmed  decline 
in  the  spring  which  resulted  fatally  on  the  22d  of  July. 


176  THE   HOPEDALE   COMMUNITY. 

She  was  but  27  years  of  age,  a  most  estimable  woman,, 
of  an  amiable,  devout,  Christlike  spirit,  much  beloved  in 
life,  and  in  death  deeply  lamented. 

The  sixth  Annual  Meeting  of  the  Community  was 
held  on  the  13th  day  of  January,  1847.  It  passed  off 
quietly,  a  somewhat  subdued  and  undemonstrative  tone 
characterizing  its  various  proceedings.  The  experiences 
of  the  preceding  year,  though  in  no  wise  undermining  or 
weakening  our  faith  in  the  justice  and  intrinsic  excellence 
of  our  cause  or  in  its  ultimate  triumph  in  the  world,  did 
have  a  tendency  to  awaken  no  little  distrust  of  ourselves, 
of  our  adaptation  to  and  fitness  for  the  sublime  work  in 
which  we  were  engaged,  and  of  the  material  at  our  com- 
mand with  which  to  build,  upon  the  sure  foundations  laid 
in  our  "Declaration,"  the  divine  kingdom  of  "  righteous- 
ness, peace,  and  joy."  So  we  received  and  accepted  the 
simple  financial  statement  of  the  Board  of  Trustees, 
Reports  of  Committees,  etc.,  in  a  calm,  dispassionate 
state  of  mind,  reserving  our  enthusiasm  and  manifesta- 
tions of  confidence  and  hope  to  a  more  auspicious  day. 

Our  official  servants  under  the  new  administration  of 
affairs  were  few  in  number  and  their  election  was  easily 
and  quickly  effected.  On  the  first  balloting,  ADIN  BAL- 
LOU,  EBENEZER  D.  DRAPER,  HORATIO  EDSON,  and  ALMON 
THWING,  who  as  members  of  the  old  Board  of  Trustees 
had  inaugurated  and  directed  thus  far  satisfactorily  the 
existing  system  of  operations,  were  unanimously  chosen 
to  fill  the  same  position  for  the  ensuing  year,  while 
DANIEL  S.  WHITNEY  was  re-elected  Recorder.  Thus 
equipped  for  active  service  the  Community  started  out. 
on  the  seventh  year  of  its  history. 


CHAPTER    VI. 

1848-1850. 

EDUCATION  —  AMUSEMENTS  —  P.    C.    MINISTRY  —  LYCEUM  — 
INDUSTRIAL   ARMY  —  SAVINGS   BANK  —  WATER 
CURE   INFIRMARY,    ETC. 

UNDER  the  newly  adopted  Constitution,  which  was 
much  briefer  and  more  general  in  its  provisions 
than  the  preceding  one,  the  management  of  the  secular 
affairs  of  the  Community  was  assigned  almost  exclusively 
to  a  Board  of  Trustees,  who  were  to  account  directly  to 
the  whole  body  of  their  fellow-associates  for  the  faithful 
discharge  of  the  duties  pertaining  to  their  official  position. 
Other  interests  were  to  be  guarded,  conserved,  and  pro- 
moted by  such  acts  of  special  legislation  in  the  form  of 
Resolves,  By-Laws,  Rules  and  Regulations,  from  time  to 
time,  as  the  public  and  private  need,  determined  by  prac- 
tical wisdom  and  experience,  might  seem  to  demand. 
Some  of  these  were  held  to  be  of  primary  and  indispen- 
sable importance,  requiring  early  attention,  and  they  were 
brought  to  notice,  duly  considered,  and  definitely  acted 
upon  accordingly.  It  was  not  our  intention  or  our  habit, 
at  any  period  of  our  history,  to  allow  any  important 
matter  of  whatever  nature  to  suffer  detriment  by  neglect 
or  default. 

Pursuant  to  that  policy,  the  Community  at  its  Annual 
Meeting  spoken  of  at  the  close  of  the  last  chapter,  in 
consideration  of  the  mutual  obligations  understood  to  be 
imposed  upon  and  voluntarily  assumed  by  the  members  in 
their  organic  relations  to  each  other  and  to  the  whole 

12 


178  THE   HOPEDALE   COMMUNITY. 

body,  passed  a  declaratory  resolve  establishing  that  point 
of  duty  beyond  all  question,  doubt,  or  peradventure.  It 
affirmed  that  the  Constitution  in  its  essential  spirit,  char- 
acter, and  purpose,  "is  a  mutual  guaranty  between  all 
its  members  and  a  solemn  pledge  that  they  will  never 
permit  one  of  their  number  to  suffer  any  serious  evil 
for  want  of  fairly  compensated  employment,  or  the  neces- 
saries of  life  when  unable  to  earn  them,  or  the  decent 
education  of  children." 

At  the  same  meeting  a  special  By-Law  was  enacted 
providing  for  the  education  of  all  the  children  resident 
on  the  Community  domain  and  such  others  in  the  vicinity 
as  might  be  received  by  the  proper  authorities  under 
suitable  restrictions,  as  a  matter  of  public  policy,  at  the 
public  expense.  The  Preamble  asserted  the  general  duty 
enjoined  upon  the  members  in  this  regard  by  the  Constitu- 
tion, while  the  enactment  proper  prescribed  "  that  a  uni- 
form and  perpetual  contribution  of  one  per  cent,  should 
be  levied  annually  on  the  net  income  of  all  the  members 
and  dependants  over  twenty-one  years  of  age,  for  educa- 
tional and  kindred  purposes."  Also.  4i  that  a  Board  of 
Education  and  Mental  Improvement  consisting  of  at  least 
three  responsible  persons  should  be  annually  chosen  to 
have  charge  of  these  matters."  This  Board  was  designed 
to  supersede  the  "  Intendaut  of  Education,  Arts,  and 
.Sciences"  provided  for  in  the  original  plan  of  the  under- 
taking and  holding  office  during  the  preceding  years. 
Its  first  members  consisted  of  Adin  Ballou,  Daniel  S. 
Whitney,  and  Clement  O.  Read.  The  new  regime  served 
to  distribute  the  responsibility  pertaining  to  the  educa- 
tional department  of  the  Community  somewhat  while 
placing  it  at  the  same  time  under  more  active  and 
efficient  supervision. 

With  the  inauguration  of  the  new  system  in  the  admin- 
istration of  our  educational  interests  and  instrumentalities, 
our  public  school  was  placed  in  the  immediate  tuitional 


IMPROVEMENT   IN   SCHOOL   AFFAIRS.  179 

<?harge  of  my  daughter,  Abbie  S.  Ballou,  under  whose 
direction  it  began  at  once  to  manifest  signs  of  marked 
improvement,  and  ere  long  attained  a  rank  second  to 
none  in  all  the  region  round  about  for  efficiency  of  disci- 
pline, for  thoroughness  of  instruction,  and  for  arousing  in 
the  minds  of  the  pupils  an  interest  in  study  and  an  ambi- 
tion to  excel,  not  only  in  book  knowledge  and  the  essentials 
of  intellectual  culture,  but  no  less  in  morals  and  manners, 
—  in  whatsoever  pertained  to  an  enlargement  and  ennoble- 
ment of  character  and  life.  The  school,  which  had  been 
in  continuous  operation  from  an  early  date  in  our  history, 
had  suffered  somewhat  from  inexperienced  and  unskillful 
teachers,  but  more  from  frequent  changes  in  the  instruc- 
tor's chair ;  such  changes  interfering  with  orderly  methods 
of  training  in  every  department  of  school  activity  and 
indisposing  the  children  to  that  regular,  systematic,  per- 
severing, continuous  application  of  the  faculties  concerned 
to  the  work  in  hand  which  is  essential  to  success.  The 
new  teacher  was  fresh  from  the  State  Normal  School  at 
West  Newton,  since  removed  to  Framiugham,  then  in 
charge  of  one  of  the  foremost  educators  of  his  time  in 
Mass.,  Rev.  Cyrus  Pierce.  To  her  natural  fitness  for 
the  position  and  her  previous  attainments  in  scholarship 
she  had  added  the  results  of  a  full  course  of  instruction 
in  the  art  of  teaching  at  that  admirable  institution,  the 
whole  being  reinforced  by  an  enthusiasm  which  that 
renowned  preceptor  was  wont  to  impart  to  or  awaken 
in  those  who  come  under  his  inspiring  influence.  She 
remained  at  the  head  of  the  school  not  only  during  the 
entire  period  covered  by  this  chapter  but  for  several 
years  thereafter,  acquiring  for  herself  in  her  chosen  call- 
ing and  for  her  school  a  reputation  highly  commendable 
and  rarely  equaled  in  those  days.  Both  received  the 
cordial  approbation  and  praise  of  our  own  Board  of 
Education  from  year  to  year,  as  they  did  of  the  Super- 
vising Committee  of  the  town  of  Milford,  who  were  by 


180  THE   HOPEDALE   COMMUNITY. 

no  means  predisposed  to  overestimate  anything  pertaining* 
to  Hopedale,  educational  or  otherwise. 

Amusements.  The  subject  of  amusements  was  intro- 
duced among  us  at  an  early  day  and  became  a  somewhat 
frequent  theme  of  private  and  public  discussion,  though 
at  no  time  one  of  excited  and  sharp  controversy.  The 
necessity  of  some  kind  of  recreation  or  merry-making, 
especially  for  our  children  and  youth,  was  generally 
acknowledged,  though  we  were  inclined  to  regard  many 
of  the  popular  forms  of  entertainment  and  frolicry  with 
suspicion  and  hesitancy  —  some  of  them  with  extreme 
aversion  —  on  account  of  what  was  deemed  their  immoral 
tendency  and  effect.  We  felt  that  whatever  practices  of 
this  sort  were  instituted  or  allowed  within  our  jurisdiction 
must  be  at  least  innocent  and  morally  heathful,  and,  if 
possible,  conducive  of  elevating  and  salutary  effects  upon 
those  engaging  in  them  —  in  happy  accordance  with  our 
professed  standard  of  faith  and  righteousness.  But  we 
learned  by  experience  that  it  -was  no  easy  task  to  realize 
our  ideal  in  this  respect.  We  found  it  difficult  to  devise 
modes  of  diversion  and  merriment  wholly  unobjectionable 
in  themselves  and  satisfactory  to  the  participants ;  still 
harder  to  regulate  them  and  prevent  them  from  running 
into  reprehensible  excesses  and  abuses ;  and  almost  impos- 
sible to  thoroughly  Christianize  them  in  all  their  bearings. 
The  great  desideratum  was  to  exclude  all  enervating 
frivolity,  all  unseemly  vulgarity,  all  rough  and  brutal 
conduct,  and  to  so  combine  physical,  intellectual,  and 
moral  exercises  and  gratifications  as  to  promote  and  not 
subvert  the  great  ends  of  personal  improvement  and  social 
order.  We  succeeded  in  this  particular  fairly  well ;  not 
as  perfectly  as  we  wished,  but  about  as  we  did  in  other 
departments  of  activity  pertaining  to  our  comprehensive 
undertaking. 

By  a  sort  of  elective  affinity  or  personal  fitness  for  the 
position  as  well  as  by  general  consent,  Br.  Daniel  S. 


RECREATION   AND   AMUSEMENT.  181 

Whitney,  while  lie  remained  with  us,  became  a  kind  of 
Purveyor  of  Amusements ;  providing  ways  and  means  of 
interesting  and  pleasing  both  young  and  old,  getting  up 
•entertainments,  festivals,  and  gala-days  at  irregular  inter- 
vals as  circumstances  might  permit  or  suggest,  and  arrang- 
ing exercises  of  various  kinds  —  sports,  games,  recitations, 
tableaux,  dramatics,  singing,  etc.,  to  gratify  and  delight 
whomsoever  might  be  in  attendance  to  participate  in  or 
witness  them.  While  most  of  these  were  of  incidental  or 
•casual  occurrence,  two  of  them  had  a  more  fixed  and 
institutional  character,  taking  place  on  the  first  day  of 
May  and  at  Christinas  time  annually,  and  hence  called 
our  May  Day  and  Christmas  Festivals  respectively.  A 
long  account  of  one  of  the  first  of  these,  held  May  1, 
1848,  was  given  in  a  letter  from  the  then  widely-known 
reformer,  Henry  C.  Wright,  who  was  present,  to  his 
friend  and  fellow-laborer  in  the  cause  of  humanity,  Philip 
P.  Carpenter  of  Warrentou,  England,  and  published  in 
The  Practical  Christian  of  May  13.  After  detailing  and 
commenting  upon  what  he  sees  and  hears  and  feels,  the 
writer  near  the  close  says  :  "  It  is  pleasant  to  witness 
and  enjoy  the  scene.  Children  and  parents  are  here 
sympathizing  together  in  their  amusements.  How  much 
more  rational,  useful,  and  Christian  these  than  others  in 
which  men  and  women  often  indulge  with  the  justification 
of  the  orthodox  world."  "I  believe  this  is  as  innocent 
as  any  meeting  and  far  more  improving  and  Christianizing 
than  those  in  which  a  pro-war,  pro-slavery,  brutalizing 
religion  is  instilled  into  men's  minds  and  hearts.  Scenes 
like  those  of  this  occasion  make  us  all  better  men  and 
women."  "The  Festival  is  about  to  close.  It  has  been 
a  warm  and  kindly  interchange  of  true,  tried,  and  loving 
hearts.  They  are  blest  in  themselves,  in  each  other,  and 
in  Grod ;  and  may  they  ever  remain  so." 

The  following  hymn  written  for  this  particular  occasion 
by  D.  S.  Whitney  was    sung    with  great  enthusiasm  and 


182  THE   HOPEDALE   COMMUNITY. 

glee,  the  children  dressed  in  white  with  bouquets  in  their 
hands  taking  the  principal  part,  while  the  congregation 
at  large  joined  in  the  chorus. 

"WILD WOOD    FLOWERS. 

"We've  been  in  search  of  wildwood  flowers 
In  Hopedale  glens  and  shady  bowers, 
And  gathered  each  a  fair  bouquet 
To  celebrate  this  festal  day. 

"CHORUS: 

"And  why  should  we  not  love  the  flowers 
That  grow  about  this  Dale  of  ours; 
Sweet  tokens  they  will  ever  prove 
Of  our  dear  Father's  precious  love. 

"  How  beautiful  the  flowers  that  spring  ! 
What  rapture  to  our  hearts  they  bring  ! 
And  silent  though  their  language  be, 
It  ever  teaches  purity. 

"CHORUS:  —  And  why  should  we,  etc. 

"We  hope  by  patient  toil  to  know 
Where  each  one  dwells  and  when  in  blow, 
Its  order  and  its  class  declare, 
And  what  its  curious  habits  are. 

"CHORUS:  —  And  why  should  we,  etc. 

"  We've  twined  these  wreaths  of  flowers  to  be 
A  symbol  meet  of  unity; 

With  cords  of  faith  and  bonds  of  love 
We're  girt  around  and  interwove. 

"CHORUS:  —  And  why  should  we,  etc. 

"  The  rose  when  crushed  gives  back  perfume  — 
To  blossoms,  fragrance  follows  soon; 
Fair  rose,  thou  lovely  Christian  flower, 
Like  thee  we'd  be  in  trial's  hour. 

"CHORUS:  —  Then  why  should  we,  etc." 


THE  INDUSTRIAL   PROBLEM.  183 

Industrial  Affairs.  These  were  administered  during  the 
period  now  in  review  under  a  mixed  but  not  altogether 
satisfactory  policy,  and  various  changes  and  modifications 
were  made  from  time  to  time  to  meet  some  special 
exigency  that  had  arisen,  to  promote  the  general  har- 
mony, and  secure  desirable  financial  results.  A  few 
branches  of  business  were  carried  on  in  the  name  of  the 
Community  under  the  direction  of  managers  appointed 
and  supervised  by  the  Trustees,  but  most  of  them  by 
private  parties  or  co-partnerships  to  which  they  had  been 
rented  or  sold,  as  provided  for  by  recent  enactments. 
But  human  imperfection  in  its  various  forms  and  mani- 
festations could  not  be  suppressed  or  transcended  by  any 
legal  or  artificial  devices,  nor  by  any  manipulation  of 
social  arrangements.  The  troubles  that  confronted  us 
were  generated,  not  by  our  general  system  or  prescribed 
industrial  polity ;  they  were  the  spontaneous  outcome  of 
human  nature  itself,  in  its  then  existing  stage  of  devel- 
opment, under  the  then  existing  circumstances  amid  which 
it  was  placed.  There  were  so  many  interests  to  be 
guarded  and  conserved,  so  many  wheels  of  activity  to 
be  kept  in  motion,  all  liable  to  more  or  less  friction  in 
some  of  their  bearings,  that  abrasion,  inharmony,  and 
consequent  difficulty,  were  sooner  or  later  inevitable. 
Temptations  from  within  one's  own  breast  or  from  the 
prevailing  social  status  round  about  us  were  likely  to 
cause  one  to  swerve,  perhaps  unintentionally  and  uncon- 
sciously, from  that  straight  unwavering  line  of  duty  to 
which  we  had  each  and  all  of  us  pledged  steadfast  and 
unfaltering  allegiance.  Persons  favored  with  the  privilege 
of  conducting  business  on  their  own  account  and  entrusted 
with  facilities  for  doing  so  were  easily  led  to  adopt  the 
questionable  customs  of  the  outside  world,  seek  profitable 
jobs  without  regard  to  their  moral  quality,  employ  objec- 
tionable help,  and  turn  out  defective  work ;  or  indulge  in 
sharp  practices  with  their  brethren  and  employes.  Com- 


184  THE   HOPEDALE   COMMUNITY. 

munity  managers  were  sometimes  thought  to  require  too 
much  of  their  subordinates  or  to  be  too  domineering  and 
ungracious  towards  them.  Members  and  probationers  were 
admitted  to  our  fellowship  from  unworthy  motives  — 
motives  other  than  devotion  to  our  test  principles,  love 
for  the  cause  we  had  espoused,  and  a  desire  to  attain  a 
better  life  for  themselves  and  for  all  mankind.  Moreover, 
our  lack  of  money  to  carry  on  business  successfully,  to 
meet  our  obligations  promptly,  to  relieve  the  burden  of 
debt  we  had  injudiciously  incurred,  to  introduce  new  and 
promising  industries,  and  to  purchase  desirable  lands 
offered  us  on  the  outskirts  of  our  domain,  was  a  cause 
of  embarrassment,  sometimes  of  irritation  and  ill  feeling. 
These  and  other  matters  not  needful  to  mention  furnished 
occasion  for  frequent  comment,  criticism,  long-drawn-out 
discussions,  dissatisfactions,  and  even  for  withdrawals 
from  our  membership.  There  were  connected  with  them 
no  open  and  flagrant  wrongs  to  be  rebuked  and  con- 
demned, very  few  small  ones,  and  scarcely  any  that  could 
be  regarded  as  intentional  and  reprehensible.  In  most 
cases  a  little  reasonable  consideration,  forbearance,  and 
patience  would  have  obviated  all  difficulty  and  healed 
every  breach  of  confidence  and  good  feeling.  A  careful 
and  conscientious  personal  application  and  use  of  our  test 
principles  would  have  smoothed  many  a  rough  place  in 
our  Communiiy  experience  and  carried  us  safely  and 
happily  over  many  a  turbulent  and  distressful  tide.  It 
was  largely  for  the  purpose  of  promoting  such  an  appli- 
cation and  use  of  our  test  principles  and  to  secure  a 
greater  self-control  and  a  greater  equipoise  of  character 
that  the  Community  voted,  Oct.  28,  1848,  to  "hold 
monthly  meetings  hereafter  for  Christian  discipline  and 
improvement."  Unlike  our  regular  gatherings  for  purposes 
of  public  worship  on  Sunday,  or  our  Thursday  evening 
conferences,  these  monthly  convocations  were  designed  to 
consider  and  take  action  upon  such  instances  of  more  Or 


MORAL   AND   RELIGIOUS    CULTURE.  185 

less  reprehensible  conduct  on  the  part  of  members  as 
might  have  been  made  public,  to  correct  existing  abuses, 
to  allay  strife  and  bitterness,  to  reconcile  alienated  feel- 
ing, to  restore  harmony  when  broken  or  disturbed,  and  to 
apply  the  proper  remedy  to  all  known  offences  and  mis- 
demeanors ;  and  also  to  talk  over  in  an  informal,  friendly, 
and  confidential  way  whatever  was  calculated  to  help 
repress  and  hold  in  check  the  lower  tendencies  of  human 
nature,  overcome  bad  habits,  resist  temptation,  stimulate 
the  better  nature,  and  develop  in  all  our  souls  the  graces 
and  powers  of  the  Christian  character  and  life.  They 
were  to  be  fraternal  tribunals  for  obtaining  judgment 
upon  overt  acts  of  folly  and  wrong,  and  at  the  same  time 
schools  for  mutual  discipline  and  culture  in  the  things 
that  pertain  to  the  kingdom  of  God. 

It  wras  in  the  year  1848  that  a  Steward  was  elected 
for  the  first  time,  whose  duty  it  was  to  provide  for  the 
proper  accommodation  and  orderly  convenience  of  our 
regularly  established  public  meetings,  and  for  all  gather- 
ings of  a  distinctively  moral,  religious,  or  philanthropic 
character.  And  to  bring  out  whatever  latent  talent  there 
might  be  among  us,  and  especially  if  it  was  associated 
with  religious  conviction  and  aspiration,  it  was  at  the 
same  time  voted  "that  all  members  of  this  Community 
who  feel  it  a  privilege  or  a  duty  to  deliver  original  or 
selected  discourses  in  our  Chapel  on  the  first  day  of  the 
week  be  invited  to  do  so  at  their  convenience,  communi- 
cating a  notice  of  their  wishes  to  the  Steward  in  season 
to  have  announcement  of  the  same  made  two  weeks  in 
advance."  This  action  resulted  in  securing  a  considerable 
amount  of  lay  preaching  to  supplement  and  reinforce 
that  of  the  regular  ministry,  as  long  as  the  Community 
continued  to  exist.  It  was  also  voted  "that  regular 
discourses,  original  or  selected,  not  exceeding  ordinarily 
thirty  minutes  in  length,  be  delivered  morning  and  after- 
noon every  first  day  of  the  week"  and  that  "  all  the  mem- 


186  THE  HOPEDALE   COMMUNITY. 

bers  and  dependants  of  the  Community  young  and  old  not 
prevented  by  indispensable  duties  or  otherwise  justifiably 
excused  ought  to  attend  our  religious  meetings  "  regularly. 

In  order  to  secure  systematic  and  effective  methods  of 
operation  in  the  department  of  Religion,  Morals,  and 
Missions  at  home  and  abroad,  and  for  the  purpose  of 
establishing  a  body  to  which  young  men  and  others  sym- 
pathizing with  our  distinctive  form  of  Christian  faith  and 
duty  and  desiring  to  become  teachers  and  promulgators 
of  its  ideas,  principles,  and  requirements,  could  attach 
themselves  by  appropriate  formalities  and  so  be  legiti- 
mately inducted  into  the  work  of  preaching  the  Gospel, 
our  already  ordained  clergymen  early  this  year  formed  an 
Association  to  be  called  TJie  Practical  Christian  Ministry. 
Their  position  as  religious,  moral,  and  philanthropic  prop- 
agandists was  clearly  set  forth  in  the  Preamble  of  a 
Constitution  under  which  they  organized  for  active  service 
in  their  chosen  field  of  labor,  as  follows : 

"  In  establishing  this  Ministry  we  assume  no  spiritual  suprem- 
acy, exclusive  dignity  or  ecclesiastical  authority  whatsoever  over 
others;  disclaiming  all  right  of  forbidding  them  to  teach  or 
obliging  them  to  hear  us;  and  asking  no  other  countenance 
in  the  prosecution  of  our  mission  than  such  as  the  reason  and 
conscience  of  kindred  minds  shall  freely  accord.  Nor  in  enter- 
ing this  Association  and  declaring  our  present  convictions  of 
truth,  duty,  and  expediency,  do  we  foreclose  future  progress 
or  merge  individual  responsibility  in  the  organization  or  make 
secession  from  us  a  sin." 

The  instrument  then  proceeds  to  state  in  detail  the 
essential  beliefs  or  doctrines  which  the  Ministry  was 
intended  to  represent  and  proclaim,  its  primary  objects, 
its  leading  measures,  and  its  order  of  membership,  organ- 
ization, and  internal  discipline.  It  also  provided  that 
a  General  Convention  of  the  body  should  be  held  once  a 
year  during  the  week  next  proceeding  the  Autumnal  Equi- 
nox and  that  its  officers  should  be  a  General  Directory,, 


' 


PRACTICAL   CHRISTIAN   MINISTRY.  187 

to  consist  of  at  least  three  persons,  a  Secretary,  Treas- 
urer, and  such  others  as  might  from  time  to  time  be 
deemed  necessary.  At  its  original  organization  Adin  Bal- 
lon, Win.  H.  Fish,  and  Daniel  S.  Whitney  were  chosen  as 
the  Directory ;  Win.  H.  Fish  as  Secretary ;  and  Adin 
Ballon  as  Treasurer  and  General  Agent. 

Among  the  primal  duties  and  paramount  objects  of 
this  Ministry,  next  to  that  of  promulgating  the  essential 
truths  and  insisting  upon  the  practical  exemplification  of 
the  absolute  duties  taught  by  Jesus  Christ,  was  that  of 
uniting  in  one  general  Practical  Christian  Communion  all 
those  in  the  community  at  large  who  should  heartily 
embrace  and  be  ready  to  make  open  confession  of  those 
truths  and  duties.  In  the  practical  development  of  thi& 
scheme,  those  members  of  the  general  Communion  dwell- 
ing in  any  given  town  or  neighborhood,  and  hence  in 
convenient  nearness  to  each  other,  formed  a  subordinate 
branch  of  the  main  body,  called  an  Inductive  Communion 
which  was  designated  by  the  name  of  the  locality  where 
it  existed.  The  Inductive  Communion  was  a  sort  of 
primary  school  of  personal  religious  culture  and  of  Prac- 
tical Christian  Sociology,  in  which  the  several  members 
formally  enrolled  expressed  a  desire  to  place  themselves- 
under  social  religious  influences  calculated  to  enlighten 
their  minds,  quicken  their  consciences,  regenerate  their 
hearts,  and  conform  their  moral  characters  to  the  divine 
requirements.  They  also  accepted  the  statement  of  faith 
and  duty  embodied  in  the  "Declaration"  of  the  original 
Practical  Christian  Communion  organized  Jan.  27,  1841, 
(see  page  28)  with  the  following  definite  pledge  appended,, 
to  wit  : 

"And,  trusting  that  the  work  of  spiritual  regeneration  has 
effectually  commenced  in  my  heart  by  the  exercise  of  sincere 
repentance  toward  God  and  faith  in  his  Son,  Jesus  Christ,. 
I  will  earnestly  endeavor  to  lead  a  true  life  according  to  the 
foregoing  acknowledgement  of  duty;  to  walk  in  unity  with  all 


188  THE   HOPEDALE   COMMUNITY. 

my  fellow  disciples  of  this  Communion  wherever  I  may  have 
intercourse  with  them;  to  contribute  liberally  of  my  temporal 
goods  toward  the  prevention  of  poverty,  ignorance,  and  vice, 
and  for  the  dissemination  of  the  principles  and  spirit  of 
Practical  Christianity;  and  to  co-operate  cordially  in  establish- 
ing local  Practical  Christian  Communities  so  constituted  as  to 
harmonize  the  interests  and  obligations  of  the  members  with- 
out destroying  their  proper  individual  freedom,  enterprise,  and 
responsibility." 

Several  organizations  were  formed  under  this  general 
plan  and  entered  at  once  upon  the  specific  lines  of 
•activity  respectively  belonging  to  them.  They  flourished 
for  several  years  or  until  the  fatal  collapse  of  the  Com- 
munity itself  in  1856,  and  indeed  for  some  time  after- 
ward, and  wrought  an  excellent  and  most  beneficent  work, 
both  within  our  own  borders  and  throughout  a  wide  extent 
of  territory  in  the  world  outside,  in  behalf  of  a  purer 
form  of  Christian  doctrine  and  a  grander  type  of  a 
Christian  life,  personal  and  social,  than  had  ever  been 
proclaimed  among  men  since  the  days  of  the  great  Teacher 
himself. 

The  Practical  Christian  Ministry,  taking  the  place  of 
the  Intendant  of  Religion,  Morals,  and  Missions,  had 
charge  of  the  various  meetings  and  appliances  established 
and  employed  at  home  for  the  quickening  and  nurture  of 
the  moral  and  spiritual  energies  of  all  classes  of  our 
population,  while  frequent  and  sometimes  widely  extended 
-excursions  abroad  in  the  interest  of  the  principles  and 
-cause  for  which  it  stood  distinctively  and  of  universal 
Reform,  were  planned  and  consummated  under  its  general 
supervision.  Our  system  of  Quarterly  Conferences  passed 
into  the  hands  of  the  General  Communion,  and  was  main- 
tained with  no  falling  away  of  numbers,  of  interest,  and 
of  enthusiasm.  The  convocations  held  under  its  auspices 
as  aforetime  were  seasons  of  refreshing  and  of  a  renewed 
life  to  those  attending  them  and  to  the  communities 
where  they  were  held;  the  preaching,  the  exhortation, 


EIGHTH   ANNUAL   MEETING.  189> 

the  singing  —  all  the  exercises  being  "  not  "with  enticing 
words  of  man's  wisdom,  but  in  demonstration  of  the 
Spirit  and  of  power;  That  our  faith  should  not  stand  in 
the  wisdom  of  men  but  in  the  power  of  God."  The 
Inductive  Communions  which  were  instituted  wrought  effec- 
tually among  young  people,  inquirers,  novitiates,  and 
sympathizing  friends,  in  the  way  of  indoctrinating  them 
in  the  things  of  the  divine  kingdom  and  of  qualifying 
them  for  efficient  service  in  the  work  of  building  up  that 
kingdom  on  the  earth.  The  design  of  all  these  associations 
was  highly  useful  and  commendable,  and  their  organic 
mechanism  in  our  comprehensive  scheme  of  human  regen- 
eration was  well  fitted  to  carry  that  design  out  to  a  full 
accomplishment.  They  only  lacked  the  men  and  the  means 
adequate  to  that  humane  and  sublime  result  —  a  lack 
which  a  wiser  and  better  future  in  the  providence  of  God 
will  no  doubt  supply. 

At  the  Annual  Meeting  of  the  Community  held  Jan. 
10,  1849,  it  appeared  from  the  Financial  Report  of  the 
Board  of  Trustees  that  the  industrial  operations  for  the 
year  ending  Dec.  31,  1848,  had  been  fairly  successful, 
furnishing  no  occasion  on  that  score  for  lamentation  or 
regret  —  no  occasion  to  doubt  that  under  wise  and  pru- 
dent management  we  were  in  the  way  of  acquiring  a 
well-earned  and  assured  material  success;  indeed  we  had 
already  acquired  such  a  success,  notwithstanding  all  the 
hindrances  and  drawbacks  we  had  encountered.  To  be 
sure,  the  figures  of  the  report  as  it  was  first  presented 
did  not  give  a  sufficient  balance  of  receipts  over  expen- 
ditures to  enable  us  to  pay  our  Joint-Stock  capital  the 
stipulated  interest  of  four  per  cent.  But  no  account  had 
been  taken  of  the  considerable  increase  in  value  of  our 
real  estate  by  reason  of  the  improvements  made  thereon, 
and  when  this  had  been  duly  estimated  —  an  act  that  was 
justified  by  a  sound  financial  policy  and  the  facts  in  the 


190  THE   HOPEDALE   COMMUNITY. 

-case  —  the  deficit  was  cancelled  and  the  prescribed  divi- 
dend was  declared.  The  Community  officials  for  the 
ensuing  year  were :  ADIN  BALLOU,  President ;  LEMUEL 
MUNYAN,  Recorder ;  ADIN  BALLOU,  EBENEZER  D.  DRAPER, 
HORATIO  EDSON,  ALMON  THWING,  and  WILLIAM  W.  COOK, 
Trustees;  ADIN  BALLOU,  CLEMENT  O.  REED,  and  EDMUND 
SOWARD,  Board  of  Education;  ASAPH  G.  SPALDING,  Stew- 
ard. 

At  an  adjourned  meeting  held  the  second  Wednesday 
in  February  it  was  "  voted,  that  the  order,  prosperity  and 
good  faith  of  the  Community  demand  that  the  rule  adopted 
last  year  requiring  monthly  settlements  be  strictly  adhered 
to  in  all  business  transactions."  Also,  "that  the  Trus- 
tees be  requested  to  make  arrangements  for  the  regular 
transportation  of  the  mail,  and  that  letters  and  papers  be 
taxed  to  pay  the  expense  thereby  incurred."  The  nearest 
U.  S.  Post  Office  was  in  the  village  of  Milford,  a  mile 
and  a  half  distant,  and  the  plan  hitherto  adopted  for  the 
transmission  of  our  mail  matter  to  and  fro  having  become 
inadequate  and  unsatisfactory  it  was  deemed  advisable 
to  institute  measures  that  would  insure  a  more  regular, 
definite,  and  acceptable  administration  of  this  department 
of  the  public  service.  A  fixed  Post  Office  pursuant 
to  the  foregoing  vote  was  established,  a  Post  Master 
appointed,  and  this  important  interest  was  thereafter 
cared  for  in  a  business-like  way,  though  of  course  at  the 
expense  of  those  conveuieuced  thereby,  as  before  indi- 
cated. 

In  order  to  supplement  the  amount  of  money  received 
from  the  town  and  other  sources  for  educational  purposes 
and  extend  the  length  of  our  school,  as  well  as  to  supply  it 
with  greatly  needed  apparatus,  the  Trustees  were  instructed 
"to  levy  a  tax  of  one  and  one-half  per  cent,  instead  of  one 
per  cent,  as  heretofore,  upon  the  net  income  of  members 
and  probationers,  to  be  expended  under  the  direction  and 
according  to  the  best  judgment  of  the  Board  of  Education." 


COMMUNITY   LYCEUM.  191 

Steps  were  also  taken  at  this  time  which  shortly  after 
resulted  in  the  establishment  of  a  Community  Lyceum, — an 
institution  that  continued  in  active  operation  many  years  and 
proved  to  be  an  efficient  and  highly  creditable  educational 
force  among  all  classes  of  our  population.  It  was  carried 
on  under  the  auspices  of  the  Community  and  by  direction 
of  the  Board  of  Education,  though  it  had  its  own  inde- 
pendent organization,  electing  its  own  officers,  and  man- 
aging, within  proper  limits,  its  own  distinctive  affairs. 
The  Board  was  authorized  to  furnish  it  with  accommoda- 
tions and  facilities  for  carrying  on  its  legitimate  work, 
expending  money  in  its  behalf,  if  their  judgment  so 
dictated ;  but  they  were  to  see  that  it  performed  its 
legitimate  functions,  maintained  a  wholesome  discipline, 
and  so  conducted  its  activities  as  to  promote  the  real 
progress  of  its  members  in  useful  knowledge.  Its  meet- 
ings were  held  once  a  month  from  the  first  of  April  to 
the  first  of  October,  and  once  a  week  during  the  remain- 
der of  the  year,  the  exercises  of  which  were  many  and 
various,  consisting  of  Lectures,  Debates,  Compositions, 
Readings,  Recitations  of  Classes  pursuing  different  branches 
of  study,  etc.,  interspersed  with  vocal  and  instrumental 
music.  This  institution  was  maintained  for  many  years 
among  us,  received  the  encouragement  and  support  of 
most  of  our  people,  and  proved  of  great  value  as  a 
means  and  stimulant  of  intellectual  training  and  culture. 
As  a  matter  of  permanent  public  policy  and  for  the 
purpose  of  beautifying  and  rendering  attractive  our  young 
and  growing  village,  a  Resolve  was  passed  Feb.  20,  1849, 
requiring  the  owners  of  house-lots  therein  to  set  out  and 
properly  care  for  either  forest  or  fruit  trees  along  that 
portion  of  the  street  upon  which  their  several  estates 
respectively  fronted.  The  same  rule  was  observed  by 
those  having  in  charge  lots  belonging  to  the  Community 
itself.  As  a  result  of  this'  action  our  village  in  a  few 
years  became  a  gem  among  the  rural  boroughs  of  the 


192  THE   HOPEDALE   COMMUNITY. 

Commonwealth  of  Massachusetts,  —  its  streets,  well-graded 
avenues  overarched  with  the  outstretching  branches  of 
thickly  planted  maples,  elms,  etc.,  on  either  hand;  its 
dwellings,  embowered  in  the  abundant  foliage  amid  which 
they  stood  and  thickly  engirdled  with  shrubbery  and 
flowers  of  multiform  kind  and  coloring.  The  passing 
years  lying  between  then  and  now,  with  the  continued 
growth,  culture,  and  improvement  that  have  been  going 
on,  have  only  argumented  and  heightened  the  prevailing 
loveliness  and  fascination  of  the  scene. 

In  the  interest  of  morality,  good  manners  and  the 
truest  culture  it  was  enacted  on  8th  day  of  April  4»  that 
the  parents  of  children  and  those  who  have  children  from 
abroad  residing  in  their  families  be  required  to  see  that 
those  under  their  care  refrain  from  all  profanity,  from  all 
vulgarities  in  word  or  action,  and  from  all  obscene  utter- 
ances or  writings ;  that  in  their  recreations  they  indulge 
in  no  habits  of  injuring,  annoying  or  vexing  their  play- 
mates ;  that  they  never  leave  the  Community  domain 
without  the  consent  of  their  parents  or  guardians ;  that 
they  retire  from  their  sports  to  their  respective  homes  by 
8  o'clock  P.  M.  "  Parents  and  guardians  were  also  enjoined 
4 '  to  have  a  watchful  care  over  their  children  during  hours 
of  meeting  both  in  and  around  the  house  where  it  is 
held,  and  to  see  that  their  conduct  is  such  as  becomes 
the  place  and  occasion,  —  such  at  all  times  as  will  reflect 
honor  upon  themselves  and  the  Community." 

About  this  time  incipient  measures  ripening  into  an 
early  fulfilment  were  instituted  for  the  formation  of  what 
was  at  first  termed  an  Industrial  Army,  afterwards  changed 
to  Industrial  Union,  the  nature  and  purpose  of  which  may 
be  understood  by  presenting  a  copy  of  the  more  important 
portions  of  the  Enactment  establishing  the  same,  which 
reads  as  follows  : 

"SECTION  1.  In  order  to  promote  the  cheerful  prosecution 
of  public  improvements  and  a  generous  assistance  of  persons 


HOPEDALE   INDUSTRIAL  ARMY.  193 

needing  occasional  aid,  all  the  members,  probationers,  and 
dependants  of  this  Community  capable  of  useful  service,  are 
hereby  constituted  a  co-operative  body  to  be  called  The  Hope- 
dale  Industrial  Army. 

"  SEC.  2.  This  Industrial  Army  shall  be  organized  in  two " 
general  Departments:  a  Male  and  Female  Department.  Each 
Department  shall  have  power  to  determine  and  adjust  its  own 
roll  of  members,  form  such  divisions,  elect  such  officers^  and 
establish  such  rules  as  may  from  time  to  time  be  deemed  pro- 
motive  of  its  orderly,  energetic,  harmonious  and  successful 
operation 

"SEC.  3.  Whenever  the  Male  Department  of  this  Army 
shall  make  requisition  for  the  use  of  any  working  vehicles, 
teams,  implements,  or  alien  employees  of  the  Community,  such 
requisition  shall  be  promptly  complied  with ;  provided,  always, 
that  at  least  three  days'  notice  shall  be  given  to  the  superin- 
tendent or  manager  in  charge  of  such  vehicles,  etc.;  and  pro- 
vided also  that  no  serious  detriment  shall  be  done  to  the 
Community  property  by  insisting  on  such  requisition." 

The  agency  thus  created  and  empowered  came  to  be  of 
great  service  in  developing  plans  promotive  of  the  public 
welfare  and  in  carrying  into  effect  the  stated  or  implied 
pledges  of  the  Constitution.  Its  Female  Department  found 
much  to  do  iu  caring  for  and  helping  individuals  and 
families  that,  by  reason  of  sickness,  misfortune,  or  other- 
wise, were  brought  into  circumstances  of  dependence  and 
need,  thus  obviating  the  necessity  in  numerous  cases  of 
presenting  demands  upon  the  common  treasury  for  means 
of  relief  or  in  any  way  making  public  the  exigencies  to 
which  improvidence  or  adversity  or  injustice  may  have 
brought  those  who  silently  or  openly  appealed  to  our  sym- 
pathy and  friendliness  for  aid.  While  the  Male  Depart- 
ment was  even  more  busy  in  projecting  and  executing 
improvements  of  one  sort  or  another  calculated  to  con- 
tribute to  the  convenience,  comfort,  pleasure,  and  happiness 
of  all  classes  of  our  people.  By  this  instrumentality  most 
of  our  sidewalks  were  originally  laid,  numerous  rough 
places  about  the  village  made  smooth,  and  ugly  features 

13 


194  THE   HOPEDALE   COMMUNITY. 

of  the  landscape  removed.  Many  trees  on  public  grounds 
and  in  the  streets  were  planted,  and  betterments  multi- 
plied on  every  hand.  The  most  notable  achievement  of 
this  arm  of  the  public  service  was  the  laying  out,  grad- 
ing, terracing,  and  adorning  with  trees  and  shrubbery,  of 
Community  Square,  making  it  in  most  respects  suitable 
and  ready  for  the  building  of  the  then  proposed  house  of 
worsliip  upon  it  in  1860,  some  years  afterward. 

During  the  year  now  under  review  considerable  addition 
was  made  to  the  Community  Domain  by  the  purchase  of 
divers  lauds  contiguous  to  our  previous  estate,  amounting 
in  the  aggregate  to  about  130  acres,  thus  increasing  our 
territorial  possessions  to  more  than  500  acres.  The  largest 
and  by  far  the  most  important  of  these  additions  was 
that  of  the  so-called  "South  Cook  farm,"  containing  with 
its  outlying  wood-lots  some  65  acres.  This  lay  directly 
south  of  our  before  acquired  landed  property,  on  the 
opposite  side  of  the  Meudon  and  Milford  road,  and  was 
divided  by  the  highway  leading  to  South  Milford,  Belling- 
ham,  etc.,  and  hence  conveniently  located  for  agricultural 
and  horticultural  purposes,  to  which  it  was  admirably 
adapted  by  the  nature  of  the  soil  and  by  careful  hus- 
bandry in  later  years.  We  were  now  sole  masters  by 
legal  title  deeds  of  our  little  Mill  River  and  nearly  all 
the  territory  skirting  it  on  both  sides  for  about  a  mile 
in  length,  north  and  south,  snugly  ensconced  between 
Magomiscock  Hill  in  Milford  on  the  east  and  Neck  Hill 
along  the  border  of  Meudon  on  the  west ;  as  pleasant  a 
location  as  could  be  reasonably  desired  for  the  purposes 
to  which  it  was  consecrated  by  us. 

Another  measure  of  public  utility  and  of  private  thrift 
devised  and  put  into  practical  operation  this  year  was 
that  comprised  in  an  Enactment  constituting  the  Commu- 
nity Treasury  a  Savings  Bank  "in  which  all  persons 
residing  on  the  general  domain  may  deposit  such  parts 
of  their  earnings  and  income  as  they  can  conveniently 


HOPEDALE    HYMN    BOOK.  195 

lay  aside  for  future  use,"  subject  to  certain  prescribed 
conditions  and  regulations,  with  a  promised  interest  of 
four  per  cent,  per  annum.  This  was  a  wise  and  justly 
appreciated  expedient,  the  beneficent  results  of  which  were 
equally  apparent  proportionally  as  are  those  of  similar 
institutions  in  the  financial  economy  of  the  world  at 
large. 

About  the  first  of  June  there  was  issued  from  the 
Hopedale  press  a  small  volume  of  224  pages,  entitled 
"Tlie  Hopedale  Collection  of  Hymns  and  Songs  for  the  use 
of  Practical  Christians."  It  was  compiled  by  myself  and 
contained  316  devotional,  moral,  philanthropic,  and  reform- 
atory pieces  suitable  for  musical  expression,  arranged  under 
eighteen  different  heads,  and  well  adapted  to  further  the 
great  ends  we  were  seeking  to  secure,  and  to  fill  an 
important  place  on  all  occasions  of  public  convocation 
and  in  the  more  private  circles  of  Christian  nurture, 
instruction,  and  worship.  The  contents  were  mostly  selec- 
tions from  the  Hymnals  and  Psalmodies  commonly  used 
in  the  various  branches  of  the  Christian  Church,  though 
about  fifty  of  them  were  written  by  different  members  of 
the  Community,  usually  for  some  special  occasion  or  to 
serve  some  special  purpose.  Some  twenty  of  these  were 
from  my  own  pen  and  about  a  dozen  each  from  the  pens 
of  Srs.  Abby  H.  Price  and  Mary  J.  Colburn ;  the  remain- 
ing six  or  eight  coming  from  still  other  persons  in  our 
fellowship.  Though  urging  no  claims  in  their  behalf  to 
popular  favor,  on  the  ground  of  either  poetical  or  literary 
merit,  I  yet  deem  it  proper  and  fitting  to  put  on  record 
in  these  pages  a  few  of  these  original  productions,  as 
illustrative  of  the  spirit  in  which  the  work  at  Hopedale 
was  carried  on  and  of  the  means  employed  to  nourish  the 
better  life  in  our  own  and  each  others  souls,  and  to  stim- 
ulate ourselves  and  others  to  a  faithful  discharge  of  the 
duties  and  obligations  set  forth  and  enjoined  in  the 
Gospel  of  Jesus  Christ.  I  present  them  as  they  stand 


196  THE   HOPED  ALE   COMMUNITY. 

in  the  volume  from  which  they  are  taken,  the  number 
in  the  collection,  the  meter,  and  name  of  the  author 
being  prefixed. 

"123.  C.   M.  Adin  Ballou. 

"  O  Lord,  our  scanty  faith  we  mourn, 

So  languid  weak  and  dim; 
We  scarce  perceive  the  heavenly  bourn, 
And  faint  in  every  limb. 

"  Far  down  thy  holy  mountain  side, 

With  Alps  on  Alps  above, 
Vast  distances  our  tents  divide 
From  thy  bright  throne  of  love. 

"  How  can  we  climb  those  rugged  heights 

And  gain  those  sinless   skies, 
Till  grace  our  dormant  will  excites 
To  grasp  th'  immortal  prize. 

"  Rend  off,  O  Lord,  this  sensual  shroud 

That  binds  the  torpid  soul; 
By  faith  eternal  things  uncloud 
And  speed  us  to  our  goal. 

"Then  shall  our  darkness  turn  to  light, 

Our  rough  ascent  grow  smooth, 
And  tottering  weakness  clothed  with  might 
At  length  triumphant  prove." 

"157.  P.  M.  A.  Ballou. 

"God  shall  be  all  in  all  — 

And  then  shall  marshalled  warriors 

No  more  upon  the  plain 

Renew  their  battle  fury 

To  multiply  the  slain; 

Then  shall  the  peaceful  era 

By  Zion's  bards  foretold, 

With  all  its  promised  glory, 

The  ransomed  world  enfold. 
"God  shall  be  all  in  all  — 

And  then  the  horrid  slaver 

Shall  cross  the  waves  no  more, 

Defenceless  men  to  ravish 

From  Afric's  injured  shore; 


ORIGINAL    HYMNS.  197 

And  all  the  sable  millions, 
In  bondage  held  abroad, 
Present  a  grateful  tribute 
To  their  redeeming  God. 

"God  shall  be  all  in  all  — 

The  church  long  torn  with  faction 
Will  lay  each  quarrel  by, 
And  all  her  jealous  watchmen 
See  clearly  eye  to  eye; 
Attired  in  bridal  garments 
She'll  take  her  Lord's  right  hand, 
And,  free  from  spot  or  wrinkle, 
Fulfil  his  high  command. 

"God  shall  be  all  in  all  — 

And  then  shall  dark  rebellion 
Against  his  holy  throne 
Be  hushed  in  endless  silence 
Where'er  his  name  is  known; 
The  ail-prevailing  Victor 
Will  make  an  end  of  sins, 
And  only  yield  the  scepter 
When  perfect  love  begins." 

"212.  P.  M.  0.  Johnson. 

"The  bondmen  are  free  in  the  isles  of  the  main, 
The  chains  from  their  limbs  they  are  flinging; 
They  stand  up  as  men  —  never  tyrants  again 
Their  God-given  rights  in  proud  scorn  shall  profane  — 

It  is  Liberty's  song  they  are  singing. 
Hark,  loud  swells  their  strain  o'er  the  foaming  sea, 
'Freedom!   holy  freedom!  freedom,  our  joy  is  in  thee.' 

•"That  shout  of  the  freed-men  bursts  sweet  on  our  ears; 

Their  hymn  full  of  joy  hear  it  swelling; 
Their  hearts  throb  with  pleasure,  their  eyes  fill  with  tears 
As  ends  the  hard  bondage  of  many  long  years; 

Now  exulant  with  pride  they  are  telling, 
*  Free,  free  are  we  from  the  slave's  hard  yoke, 
Freemen,  faithful  freemen  —  freemen,  our  fetters  are  broke.' 


198  THE   HOPEDALE   COMMUNITY. 

"Now  praise  to  Jehovah,  the  might  of  his  love 

At  length  o'er  the  foe  is  prevailing. 
His  truth  was  the  weapon  and  by  it  we  strove 
In  the  light  of  his  spirit  sent  down  from  above  — 

Of  his  truth  and  his  love  never  failing. 
Thanks,  thanks  unto  God!   now  the  slave  is  free; 
Freedom !  holy  freedom !  Father,  our  thanks  are  to  thee. 

"O  ye  who  are  blest  with  fair  Liberty's  light, 

With  courage  and  hope  all  abounding, 
With  weapons  of  love  be  ye  bold  for  the  right; 
By  the  preaching  of  truth  put  oppression  to  flight; 

Then,  your  altars  triumphant  resounding, 
Loud,  loud  let  the  anthem  of  joy  ring  out; 
*  Freedom !  holy  freedom ! '  let  all  the  world  hear  the  shout."" 

"  254.  P.  M.  Mary  J.  Colburn. 

"Onward,  though  the  world's  impeding. 
Onward,  every  foe  unheeding, 
Jesus  now  the  cause  is  leading  — 

He  will  be  our  guide; 
In  his  strength  we'll  conquer, 
In  his  strength  we'll  conquer, 
In  his  strength  we'll  conquer, 

For  his  truth  is  on  our  side. 

"Not  with  earth's  proud  armor  shielding, 
Not  with  carnal  weapons  wielding, 
These  to  mightier  ones  are  yielding, 

Furnished  from  above; 
And  we'll  surely  conquer, 

For  our  sword  is  truth  and  love. 

"  See  the  man  of  noble  daring, 
Earth's  proud  laurels  richly  wearing, 
Leaving  all  and  meekly  sharing 

In  this  work  of  peace; 
Love  will  surely  conquer, 

And  all  hate  and  war  shall  cease. 

"Yes  this  earth  though  stained  and  gory, 
Filled  with  scenes  of  woe  her  story, 
Shall  arise  to  former  glory 

And  God's  light  shall  see; 
Light  will  surely  conquer, 

Earth  will  have  a  Jubilee." 


INDUSTRIAL   REACTION.  199 

"262.  10's  M.  AbbyH.  Price. 

"  O  thou  blest  Comforter  !   pure  Spirit,  hear  ! 
Bend  we  thy  shrine  before,  trembling  with  fear; 
Hate  like  a  shadow  dark  clouds  all  below, 
Love  floats  her  shining  bark  o'er  waves  of  woe. 

"Spirit  of  Holy  Power!   give  us  thy  light; 
And  in  the  trial-hour  —  guide  through  the  night; 
Gird  us  with  strength  and  will,  mighty  to  save, 
Striving  with  error  still,  valiant  and  brave. 

"Keenly  oppression's  pain  pierceth  the  weak; 
Help  us  the  galling  chains  quickly  to  break; 
Earth's  bitter  founts  of  woe  soon  may  we  close, 
Making  this  world  below  bloom  as  the  rose. 

"  Give  thou  thy  Spirit  free,  Savior  and  Lord  ! 
Peace,  love,  and  liberty  follow  thy  word; 
While  as  a  brother-band  onward  we  move, 
Joy  shall  fill  all  the  land  gilded  with  love  !  " 

The  perplexities  and  disadvantages  arising  from  the 
great  diversity  of  interests  represented  in  the  management 
of  business  as  it  was  carried  on  among  us,  causing  more 
or  less  friction  between  the  several  branches  and  the 
different  parties  to  whom  they  had  been  sold  outright  or 
rented  for  a  definite  period,  became  so  apparent  towards 
the  close  of  the  year  and  provoked  so  much  criticism, 
that,  on  the  28th  of  December,  it  was  resolved  that  "it 
is  highly  desirable  that  all  kinds  of  business  dependent 
on  Community  facilities  should  as  soon  as  practicable  be 
placed  under  Community  management,  and  the  Board  of 
Trustees  are  hereby  instructed  to  govern  themselves  accord- 
ingly." It  was  exceeding  difficult  to  find  the  exact  mean 
between  too  much  and  too  little  individual  control  in  the 
conduct  of  our  leading  industries,  which  would  prove 
pecuniarily  advantageous  to  both  the  Community  and  the 
employes,  and  whatever  policy  was  at  any  time  adopted, 
despite  all  the  reason,  the  persuasion,  the  diplomacy  we 
could  bring  to  bear  upon  the  matter,  was  likely  to  offend 


200  THE   HOPEDALE   COMMUNITY. 

the  judgment,  the  taste,  the  idiosyncrasy,  or  perhaps  the 
selfishness  of  some  of  the  brethren  and  cause  disaffection 
and  loss  of  members.  But  this  could  not  by  any  possi- 
bility be  avoided,  and  we  who  were  thoroughly  and  wholly 
committed  to  the  cause  of  Social  Reconstruction  were 
obliged  to  submit  with  the  best  grace  we  could,  though 
often  to  our  great  regret  and  sorrow.  All  this  was  illus- 
trated in  the  case  just  spoken  of,  as  will  soon  appear. 

Another  cause  of  trouble  and  anxiety  was  brought  to 
notice  about  this  time,  requiring  thoughtful  consideration 
and  decisive  action  on  the  part  of  the  Community^  The 
gradual  multiplication  and  enlargement  of  our  industrial 
activities  on  the  farm,  in  the  gardens,  and  in  the  shops, 
made  it  necessary  to  increase  the  number  of  workmen, 
who  were  often  employed  with  too  little  regard  to  their 
moral  character  and  the  influence  that  they  might  exert 
upon  our  children  and  youth  and  even  upon  some  of  our 
adult  population.  It  was  found  that  in  this  way  mischief 
was  being  done  among  us  and  that  some  of  our  most 
sacred  interests  were  likely  to  suffer  serious  detriment 
unless  a  more  careful  and  discriminating  course  was 
pursued  in  the  matter.  Whereupon,  after  due  delibera- 
tion, the  Community  on  the  date  last  named 

"Resolved,  (1)  That  the  protracted  residence  on  the  Commu- 
nity domain  of  persons  who  are  not  sympathetically  interested 
in  our  objects,  principles,  and  social  order  has  a  demoralizing 
tendency  and  ought  not  to  be  encouraged. 

"Resolved,  (2)  That  from  and  after  the  first  day  of  April  next 
no  person,  besides  members,  probationers,  dependents,  visiting 
friends,  medical  patients,  nurses,  or  tenants  holding  under  a 
contract  prior  to  this  date,  shall  be  employed,  boarded  or  har- 
bored on  the  Community  territory  for  a  longer  term  of  time 
than  one  month,  unless  by  special  vote  of  the  Community. 

"Resolved,  (3)  That  the  Recorder  be  instructed  to  open  and 
keep  a  Book  of  Record  with  appropriate  designations  in  which 
the  names  of  all  probationers  and  dependents  (including  all 
employes,  whether  engaged  by  the  Community  or  individuals) 


NINTH   ANNUAL  MEETING.  201 

of  this  Community  shall  be  duly  entered,  either  by  their  own 
orders  or  those  of  their  responsible  friends,  and  also  a  minute 
of  their  discharge  and  the  date  when  they  ceased  to  sustain 
such  relation." 

Other  less  important  resolves  of  the  same  nature  aim- 
ing at  the  purification,  homogeneity,  harmony,  and  proper 
moral  status  of  life  within  our  borders  were  passed  at 
the  same  meeting.  We  learned  by  repeated  experience 
that  in  the  new  social  order  as  in  the  old,  ''eternal 
vigilance  is  the  price  of  liberty,"  especially  of  that  "  liberty 
wherewith  Christ  maketh  free." 

At  the  annual  meeting  held  Jan.  9,  1850,  the  regular 
routine  of  business  was  followed  with  promptness  and 
dispatch.  Various  reports  of  officers  and  special  com- 
mittees were  read  and  accepted  as  conclusive  and  satis- 
factory. That  of  the  Treasurer  in  behalf,  of  the  Board  of 
Trustees  represented  our  industrial  affairs  as  in  a  health- 
ful and  promising  condition,  justifying  existing  methods 
of  operation  and  inspiring  confidence  in  the  financial 
success  of  the  movement.  The  old  President,  ADIN  BAL- 
LOU,  was  re-elected,  and  ADIN  BALLOU,  E.  D.  DRAPER, 
and  WM.  H.  HUMPHREY  were  chosen  Trustees;  WM.  S. 
HEYWOOD  was  made  Recorder;  WM.  H.  FISH,  C.  O.  REED, 
and  EDMUND  SOWARD  constituted  the  new  Boardr  of  Educa- 
tion;  while  A.  G.  SPALDING  became  Steward  for  another 
year.  A  Relief  Committee  was  determined  upon  as  a 
needed  supplement  to  the  pre-existing  corps  of  official 
servants,  and  ADIN  BALLOU,  BUTLER  WILMARTH,  ALMIRA 
B.  HUMPHREY,  and  ANNA.  T.  DRAPER  were  elected  to  that 
position.  At  an  adjourned  meeting  it  was  deemed  advis- 
able to  have  a  Standing  Community  Auditor,  * '  whose 
duty  it  should  be  to  make  frequent  examination  of  the 
accounts  of  all  branches  of  business  carried  on  under 
Community  auspices,  keep  himself  informed  concerning 
their  actual  and  prospective  condition,  and  once  in  three 
months  report  in  detail  to  the  Board  of  Trustees."  Lem- 
uel Munyan  was  chosen  to  the  office. 


202  THE   HOPEDALE   COMMUNITY. 

In  view  of  the  increasing  number  of  residents  on  our 
Community  domain  as  members,  probationers,  family 
dependents,  hired  workmen,  household  servants,  etc.,  and 
therewith  the  increasing  liability  to  the  introduction  among 
us  of  some  of  the  prevailing  evils  of  ordinary  human 
society,  whereby  our  children  and  youth  would  be  con- 
taminated, private  and  public  virtue  and  happiness  under- 
minded,  and  our  whole  movement  imperilled,  it  was  about 
this  time  deemed  advisable  to  established  a  new  Board 
of  officials,  which  should  act  as  a  kind  of  moral  police 
and  judiciary  in  our  social  and  civil  economy.  This  was 
accordingly  done,  the  name  of  this  Board  being  "  The 
Council  of  Religion,  Conciliation,  and  Justice."  It  was 
the  prescribed  duty  of  the  Council  to  examine  all  appli- 
cants for  membership  and  probationship  in  our  body  and 
approve  or  disapprove  them  as  they  were  deemed  worthy 
or  unworthy,  to  recommend  persons  as  permitted  residents 
on  our  territory,  to  maintain  a  scrupulous  watchfulness 
over  the  morals  and  manners  of  our  entire  population,  to 
apply  proper  restraints  and  correctives  of  existing  wrongs 
and  misdemeanors,  to  hear  and  pass  judgment  upon 
charges  of  ill-conduct  of  any  sort,  to  arbitrate  in  cases 
of  controversy  or  serious  disagreement,  and  in  a  general 
way  to  exercise  fraternal  supervision  and  authority  in  all 
matters  pertaining  to  the  moral  and  religious  status  and 
welfare  of  all  classes  and  conditions  of  people  within  our 
borders.  This  official  Board  was  accustomed  to  hold 
monthly  meetings  for  the  proper  discharge  of  the  duties 
assigned  to  it,  and  proved  to  be,  while  the  Community 
had  a  name  to  live  and  a  power  to  exercise  the  functions 
of  a  self-governing  institution,  an  efficient  and  most  helpful 
arm  of  the  public  service.  Its  first  members  were  Butler 
Wilmarth,  Lemuel  Munyan,  Wm.  S.  Heywood,  Anna  T. 
Draper,  and  Phila  O.  Wilmarth. 

In  consequence  of  the  new  managemental  policy  adopted 
the  preceeding  autumn  as  outlined  a  few  pages  back  and 


A   MUCH    REGRETTED   WITHDRAWAL.  20S 

the  modifications  consequent  thereon,  six  of  our  much 
esteemed  and  highly  useful  members  withdrew  from  our 
membership  and  ere  long  removed  from  the  place.  The 
ground  of  their  action  was  not  loss  of  faith  in  the  dis- 
tinctive principles  on  which  our  movement  was  based  a& 
expressed  in  our  "Declaration,"  nor  in  the  Community 
Idea  as  a  solution  of  the  great  problem  of  Social  Reform, 
but,  as  one  of  them  was  pleased  to  phrase  it,  "too  much 
industrial  consolidation,  complexity  and  govemmeiitalism." 
Among  those  parting  company  with  us  at  this  time  was 
Bro.  Daniel  S.  Whitney,  the  third  of  my  original  minis- 
terial colleagues,  and  one  upon  whom  I  had  relied  with 
great  confidence  as  a  man  of  intelligence,  sterling  recti- 
tude, and  honor,  and  as  a  reliable,  trustworthy,  unfaltering 
co-worker  in  the  cause  of  Practical  Christian  Socialism. 
This  step  on  the  part  of  Bro.  Whitney  was  the  occasion 
of  profound  regret,  disappointment,  and  grief,  on  my  part 
and  on  the  part  of  all  his  fellow-laborers,  towards  whom 
he  professed  to  cherish  only  sentiments  of  respect  and 
affection,  charging  none  with  any  unfaithfulness  to  prin- 
ciple or  duty  as  a  reason  for  leaving  them  but  ascribing 
his  act  of  retirement  from  Community  membership  to 
"the  industrial  organization"  which  in  his  judgment  was 
productive  of  many  evils  and  "cost  more  than  it  was 
worth."  Of  the  principles  underlying  the  Hopedale  move- 
ment he  said,  "I  most  thankfully  accept  them  as  the 
truth  of  God.  They  are  alike  needful  in  their  spirit  and 
power  to  redeem  mankind,  individually  and  socially." 

And  yet  while  he  could  not  remain  with  the  Community 
in  which  those  principles  were  acknowledged  and  made, 
according  to  his  own  confession,  the  supreme  law,  by 
reason  of  some  real  or  supposed  defect  in  their  applica- 
tion and  use,  arising,  not  through  any  infidelity  on  the 
part  of  his  brethren  but  by  error  of  judgment  or  lack  of 
insight  into  the  bearing  and  tendency  of  things,  which > 
if  it  existed,  they  were  most  anxious  to  have  remedied^ 


204  THE   HOPEDALE   COMMUNITY. 

Cither  by  his  superior  wisdom  and  virtue  or  in  some  other 
way, —  while  he  could  not  conscientiously  remain  with  us 
under  such  circumstances,  he  could  go  back  into  existing 
society,  where,  as  he  had  often  asserted,  they  were  sys- 
tematically and  persistently  set  at  defiance  and  openly 
violated,  engaging  actively  and  without  the  least  apparent 
scruple  in  the  support  or  administration  of  a  government 
whose  fundamental  law  he  had  repeatedly  declared  to  be 
hostile  to  and  subversive  of  the  government  of  God  — 
"a  covenant  with  death  and  an  agreement  with  hell." 
His  Hopedale  brethren,  kindly  disposed  as  they  were 
towards  him,  were  hardly  able  to  see  the  consistency, 
wisdom,  or  moral  perspicuity  of  this,  but  he  seemingly 
did,  and  acted  accordingly.  He  continued  much  interested 
in  special  reform  questions,  became  a  frequent  participant 
in  local  and  general  politics,  was  for  a  long  time  an 
•earnest  member  of  the  Republican  party,  though  for 
several  of  the  last  years  of  his  life  he  affiliated  as  ally 
and  adviser  with  the  political  Prohibitionists  or  Third 
Party  men.  He  had  the  distinction  of  representing  the 
town  of  Boylston,  where  he  located  about  a  year  after 
leaving  Hopedale,  in  the  State  constitutional  convention 
of  1853,  gaining  therein  considerable  notoriety  and  honor 
for  his  manly  and  persistent  advocacy  of  the  claims 
•of  woman  to  the  free  exercise  of  the  right  of  suffrage. 
Removing  subsequently  to  Southborough,  he  was  there  a 
highly  esteemed  citizen,  and  held  for  many  years  the  office 
of  postmaster  under  the  Republican  supremacy  at  Wash- 
ington. He  died  March  14,  1894,  leaving  a  wife  and  two 
daughters,  all  of  whom  still  survive. 

The  Hopedale  Water  Cure  Establishment.  The  method 
of  treating  disease  by  a  free  and  judicious  use  of  pure 
water  accompanied  by  a  greatly  diminished  resort  to  drugs 
and  medicines,  usually  termed  Hydropathy,  had  a  few 
adherents  among  us  at  an  early  day.  Our  genial,  cau- 
tious, openminded,  conscientious  physician,  Butler  Wil- 


WATER   CURE   ESTABLISHMENT.  205 

marth,  M.  D.,  a  skillful,  successful  practitioner  of  the 
Allopathic  school,  quite  incredulous  at  first  of  the  uew 
system,  was  led  to  look  carefully  into  its  workings  and 
merits  by  witnessing  the  somewhat  wonderful  cure  through 
its  agency  of  a  little  boy  —  the  four  year  old  son  of 
Bro.  Wm.  H.  Fish  —  who  had  been  stricken  down  with 
a  severe  and  alarming  attack  of  scarlet  fever.  The  result 
of  his  investigation  was  a  thorough  conversion  to  and  sub- 
sequent championship  of  its  claims  at  home  and  abroad 
wherever  his  voice  could  be  heard.  Having  become  fully 
convinced  of  the  essential  efficacy  of  water  as  a  remedial 
agent,  and  the  antidotes  and  restoratives  employed  in 
connection  therewith,  he  very  soon  started  the  project  of 
founding  an  Infirmary  at  Hopedale  for  the  accommodation 
and  treatment  of  patients,  however  afflicted,  according  to 
the  principles  and  requirements  of  the  Hydropathic  sys- 
tem. The  Community,  to  whose  members  he  made  an 
appeal  for  approval  and  help  as  soon  as  his  plans  were 
sufficiently  mature,  being  favorably  disposed  towards  the 
undertaking,  voted  in  April,  1850,  "to  appropriate  $600.00* 
to  establish  a  Water  Cure  Infirmary,  provided  new  Joint- 
Stock  can  be  obtained "  for  that  purpose.  The  funds 
were  forthcoming  and  the  large  double  house  built  by 
Amos  J.  Cook  and  Edmund  Price,  which  had  come  into 
the  possession  of  the  Community,  was  remodeled  and 
fitted  up  for  the  purpose  indicated  during  the  ensuing 
summer.  In  the  month  of  September  it  was  opened  to 
the  public  agreeably  to  the  terms  stated  in  the  following 
advertisement : 

"  This  Establishment  is  situated  in  the  pleasant  and  peace- 
ful village  of  Hopedale  (Milford),  Mass.,  and  is  under  the  care 
of  Dr.  Butler  Wilmarth,  who,  with  his  wife,  will  devote  their 
constant  attention  and  services  to  restore  to  health  all  who 
place  themselves  under  their  care  as  patients.  Terms:  $4  to  $5 
per  week  (payment  weekly)  exclusive  of  washing.  Extra  privi- 


206  THE   HOPEDALE   COMMUNITY. 

leges   or   attention  will   subject   the   patient   to   extra  charges. 
Patients  will  furnish  the  usual  articles  for  treatment. 

B.    WlLMARTH,    M.  D. 

Hopedale  (Milford),  Sept.  28,  1850. 

This  institution  was  something  entirely  new  in  this 
part  of  the  country,  as  was  its  mode  of  treatment  for 
the  various  ills  which  flesh  is  heir  to,  and  hence  failed 
of  sufficient  patronage  to  render  it  pecuniarily  successful. 
It  was  therefore  deemed  expedient,  after  it  had  been  open 
a  few  months,  to  close  it  and  restore  the  building  to  its 
original  uses.  This  decision  was  made  with  the  entire 
approval  of  Dr.  Wilmarth  who  had  received  a  somewhat 
flattering  offer  to  take  charge  of  a  similar  establishment 
at  New  Graefenburg,  N.  Y.,  which  had  already  acquired 
a  good  reputation  and  standing  with  the  general  public, 
and  to  that  place  he  removed  with  his  family  in  the 
spring  of  1851,  much  to  the  regret  of  all  of  us,  by  whom 
he  was  held  in  sincere  esteem  as  a  truly  Christian  man 
and  a  physician  of  high  degree. 

Reconstruction  of  Land  Titles.  Early  in  the  year  now 
under  notice  it  began  to  be  feared  by  some  of  our  num- 
ber that  the  manner  of  transferring  house-lots  and  other 
pieces  of  real  estate  in  the  Community  was  not  altogether 
legal  and  sufficiently  guarded  to  insure  the  holders  against 
all  possible  future  misunderstandings  and  complications. 
It  was  therefore  deemed  advisable  to  refer  the  whole 
matter  to  Ellis  Gray  Loriug,  Esq.,  of  Boston,  one  of  the 
most  competent  and  experienced  conveyancers  in  the 
Commonwealth  of  Massachusetts,  and  a  good  friend  to 
all  humanitary  undertakings.  This  was  accordingly  done, 
and  after  a  thorough  investigation  of  the  case  in  all  its 
bearings,  he  gave  it  as  his  opinion  that  there  was  good 
reason  for  the  growing  disquietude  in  regard  to  it,  and 
that  there  should  be  an  entire  recasting  of  our  method 
of  acquiring  and  transferring  our  lauded  property  and  its 
appurtenances.  The  titles  by  which  I  had  come  into 


RECONSTRUCTION    OF   LAND   TITLES.  207 

possession  of  the  original  Jones'  farm  were  good  beyond 
all  question,  as  were  those  by  which  I  and  others  had 
obtained  additional  territory  by  subsequent  purchases. 
There  was  no  occasion  for  disturbing  them  or  in  any  way 
tampering  with  them.  But  all  later  action  needed  revi- 
sion —  needed  to  be  put  upon  a  new  and  invulnerable 
basis.  He  therefore  recommended  that  the  Community 
choose  five  of  its  most  reliable  members  to  be  known  as 
Trustees  of  Real  Estate,  who,  in  their  official  capacity, 
should  execute  a  Declaration  of  Trust  setting  forth  their 
distinctive  powers  and  obligations  in  due  and  lawful 
form,  and  have  it  recorded  in  the  Registry  of  Deeds  for 
the  county  of  Worcester.  These  Trustees  were  to  be  the 
legally  constituted  and  recognized  financial  Agents  of  the 
Community  in  all  real  estate  transactions.  He  also  recom- 
mended that  all  the  members  of  the  Community  and  others 
concerned,  whether  nominal  laud  owners  or  not,  give  a 
quit-claim  deed  conveying  all  their  right,  title,  and  interest 
in  and  to  real  estate  within  the  limits  of  the  town  of 
Milford,  to  some  disinterested  person,  who  should  at  once 
quit-claim  back  again  whatever  of  said  property  was  out- 
side of  the  Community  to  its  respective  and  proper  owners, 
and  all  the  rest  pertaining  to  the  Community  domain  to 
the  aforesaid  Trustees,  as  joint  tenants  and  not  as  tenants 
in  common.  These  Trustees  should  then  distribute  to  the 
previous  purchasers  of  house-lots  and  other  real  property, 
the  pieces  belonging  to  them,  by  regular  legal  convey- 
ances, as  they  should  whatever  pieces  might  be  disposed 
of  by  regular  sale  in  time  to  come.  In  this  way  each 
land  owner  would  be  made  secure  in  his  title  to  his 
estate,  beyond  all  doubt  or  peradventure.  Before  pre- 
senting this  plan  of  obviating  the  existing  difficulty  to 
the  Community,  Mr.  Loriug  submitted  it  to  the  careful 
examination  and  judgment  of  three  other  eminent  convey- 
ancers of  Boston,  who  pronounced  it  adequate  to  the 
exigencies  to  be  provided  for,  and  absolutely  irrefragable. 


208  THE   HOPED  ALE   COMMUNITY. 

These  recommendations  were  gladly  accepted  and  meas- 
ures were  at  once  taken  to  have  them  carried  into  effect. 
At  a  regular  meeting  of  the  Community,  held  May  1, 
the  Board  of  Real  Estate  Trustees  was  chosen,  consisting 
of  ADIN  BALLOU,  E.  D.  DRAPER,  WM.  H.  HUMPHREY, 
BUTLER  WILMARTH,  and  ALMON  THWING,  who  entered 
immediately  upon  the  discharge  of  the  duties  assigned  to 
them,  and  on  June  1  the  required  instruments  had  been 
executed  and  transfers  made  and  the  entire  real  estate 
possessions  pertaining  to  the  Community  were  lodged  in 
the  hands  of  the  legally  constituted  authorities,  to  be 
distributed,  disposed  of,  and  controlled,  as  equity  and 
their  best  judgment  might  dictate.  Thenceforward  there 
was  no  trouble  or  anxiety  on  that  score. 

The  service  done  to  the  Community  in  this  matter  by 
Mr.  Loring  was  of  great  value  and  highly  appreciated, 
but  he  rendered  it  gratuitously,  out  of  a  sincere  friend- 
ship for  us  and  our  cause,  refusing  utterly  the  compensa- 
tion we  cheerfully  proffered  him.  We  could  do  no  less 
than  vote  him  an  expression  of  heartfelt  gratitude. 

The  establishing  of  a  Trusteeship  for  the  proper  holding 
and  management  of  real  estate  made  it  necessary  for  us 
to  amend  or  change  our  Constitution  and  By-Laws  some- 
what, in  order  to  have  them  conform  to  the  new  system 
and  prevent  all  confusion  and  annoyance  in  respect  to 
names  of  official  Boards,  etc.  The  most  essential  of 
these  occurred  in  the  third  article  of  our  fundamental 
basis  of  organization  which  was  so  modified  as  to  read 
as  follows  : 

ARTICLE   III. 

"  SEC.  1.  The  Legislative  powers  of  this  Community  shall 
be  vested  in  the  members  thereof  present  and  acting  in  regu- 
lar Community  meeting.  The  Executive  powers  not  necessarily- 
appertaining  to  the  Trustees  shall  be  vested  in  a  President  and 
Directory.  The  Directory  shall  consist  of  at  least  three  mem- 
bers besides  the  President.  The  Judicial  powers  shall  be 


SETTLEMENT   WITH   MR.   BENNETT.  209 

vested  in  such  tribunals  as  the  Community  may  from  time  to 
time  establish. 

"  SEC.  2.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  Directory  to  conduct 
the  prudential  affairs,  industrial  operations  and  general  inter- 
ests of  the  Community  in  such  a  manner  as  to  insure  to  every 
member,  probationer  and  dependent,  adequate  employment, 
educational  advantages  and  exemptions  from  the  evils  of  pov- 
erty, ignorance  and  vice,  and  also  at  the  same  time,  if  possi- 
ble, to  secure  to  the  Stockholders  their  capital  unimpaired, 
with  a  clear  annual  profit  thereon  of  four  per  cent." 

Agreeably  to  the  provisions  of  this  Amendment  the 
following  named  persons  were  on  the  13th  of  July  elected 
to  serve  in  the  official  positions  respectively  indicated 
until  their  successors  should  be  chosen  at  the  next  Annual 
Meeting  in  January,  1851,  viz.  :  ADIN  BALLOU,  President; 
E.  D.  DRAPER,  W.  H.  HUMPHREY,  ALMON  THWING,  Direc- 
tors; E.  D.  DRAPER,  Treasurer. 

Under  the  new  auspices  and  methods  of  administration 
the  Community  became  more  homogeneous  and  consoli- 
dated than  ever  before,  was  more  admirably  and  efficiently 
organized  for  the  varied  work  it  had  in  hand,  and  went 
forward  on  its  mission  with  more  substantial  assurance  of 
final  success  than  had  characterized  any  previous  period 
of  its  history. 

Tlie  Bennett  Imbroglio  Settled.  One  of  the  first  acts  of 
the  new  administration  was  to  bring  the  long  pending 
controversy  with  our  neighbor,  Nathaniel  Bennett,  already 
mentioned,  to  a  successful  termination.  Time  and  reflec- 
tion had  mollified  his  temper  considerably  and  led  him  to 
change  his  policy  toward  the  Community.  He  had  become 
willing  to  sell  the  so-claimed  injured  laud  to  us,  and  to 
sell  it  for  a  sum,  including  the  then  present  value  of  the* 
property  and  past  damages,  to  be  determined  by  a  Board, 
of  three  Referees  mutually  agreed  upon  by  both  parties,, 
their  decision  to  be  accepted  and  submitted  to  as  final 
in  the  case.  The  Directory  concurred  in  the  proposition, 
and  united  heartily  with  Mr.  Bennett  in  securing  the  endi 
14 


210  THE   HOPEDALE   COMMUNITY. 

in  view  at  the  earliest  practicable  date.  The  Referees 
were  Henry  Chapiu  of  Milford,  Amariah  Taft  of  Meudon, 
and  Wm.  H.  Gary  of  Medway.  Pursuant  to  their  award 
of  $272.67,  rendered  July  15,  which  included  the 
appraised  value  of  four  and  a  half  acres  of  land,  all 
previous  damages,  and  all  possible  future  ones  to  adjoin- 
ing property,  we  paid  the  sum  named  and  received  the 
proper  title  deeds,  and  therewith  exemption  from  any  and 
all  contingent  claims  in  time  to  come.  The  whole  expense 
to  us,  reckoning  surveyor's  fees,  referees  charges,  and  a 
gratuity  to  Mrs.  Bennett,  was  less  than  $280.00.  The 
conclusion  of  the  matter  was  satisfactory  to  both  parties 
and  was  reached  by  a  process  much  cheaper  no  doubt 
for  us,  and  probably  for  him,  and  better  morally  for  all 
concerned,  than  the  world's  stubborn,  litigious  method  of 
settling  such  controversies. 

At  the  Annual  Meeting  of  the  Community,  held  Jan.  8, 
1851,  the  opening  exercises  being  concluded,  the  customary 
required  Reports  were  read  and  accepted.  That  of  the 
Treasurer,  which  was  supplemented  by  statements  from 
the  managers  of  the  several  branches  of  industry  operated 
-under  Community  direction,  represented  the  financial  affairs 
of  the  body  as  in  a  fairly  prosperous  condition,  although 
the  profits  accruing  from  the  business  activities  of  the 
previous  year  were  not  sufficient  to  enable  the  Directory 
to  pay  to  Joint-Stock  the  contingently  stipulated  dividend 
of  four  per  cent,  due  for  the  past  two  years.  The  indus- 
trial and  economical  interests  of  the  Community  had  been 
well  guarded  and  the  several  departments  having  them  in 
^charge  had  worked  harmoniously  and  efficiently,  giving 
promise  of  larger  results  and  returns  in  the  immediate 
future.  Good  feeling  prevailed  and  a  hopeful  spirit, 
which  were  manifested  by  a  cheerful  readiness  to  adopt 
measures  for  meeting  all  existing  obligations  and  for 
providing  against  possible  deficits  in  years  to  come,  as 
will  appear  in  the  next  chapter. 


OFFICIAL   SERVANTS   FOR  1851.  211 

Officers  elected  at  this  meeting  for  the  year  1851  were  : 
ADIN  BALLOU,  President;  E.  D.  DRAPER,  W.  H.  HUMPHREY, 
A.  THWING,  D.  B.  CHAPMAN,  Directors;  E.  D.  DRAPER, 
Treasurer;  WM.  S.  HEYWOOD,  Recorder;  ADIN  BALLOU, 
WM.  H.  FISH,  E.  SOWARD,  Board  of  Education;  D.  H. 
CARTER,  Steward;  W.  W.  COOK,  HENRY  FISH,  LUCY  H. 
BALLOU,  B.  WILMARTH,  SYLVIA  W.  BANCROFT,  Council; 
EDMUND  SOWARD,  ALMIRA  B.  HUMPHREY,  S.  S.  BROWN, 
ABBIE  J.  SPALDING,  Relief  Committee. 


CHAPTER    VII. 

1851-1853. 

ICARIA  —  NEW    LEGISLATION  —  EDUCATIONAL    HOME  — 
RETIREMENT    OF   A.    BALLOU  —  BEREAVE- 
MENTS—  FREE    LOVE. 

TTTHEN  it  was  made  to  appear  by  the  Report  of  the 
Treasurer  presented  at  the  meeting  referred  to  on 
the  last  two  pages  that  the  proceeds  of  the  industrial 
operations  for  the  year  just  closed  were  insufficient  to 
pay  the  dividends  then  due  on  the  Joint-Stock  of  the 
Community,  it  seemed  to  be  the  spontaneous  and  earnest 
feeling  of  the  members  convened  that  some  measures 
should  be  devised  and  adopted,  not  only  for  the  liquida- 
tion of  obligations  of  that  sort,  but  also  for  the  prevention 
of  similar  emergencies  thereafter.  In  order  to  provide 
for  the  immediate  and  prospective  need  in  this  regard 
and  secure  speedy,  and  efficient  action,  our  faithful  and 
generous  brother,  Ebenezer  D.  Draper,  submitted  a  prop- 
osition for  the  consideration  of  his  associates,  offering, 
to  contribute  a  certain  percentage  of  what  was  then 
required  to  enable  the  Community  to  fulfil  its  promise  to 
the  stockholders,  on  condition  that  the  remainder  should 
be  furnished  by  others  of  the  brethren  and  that  provision 
should  be  made  whereby  no  such  exigency  could  possibly 
arise  in  the  years  ahead.  The  proposition  was  favorably 
and  gratefully  received,  and  a  committee  was  appointed 
to  give  it  careful  and  thorough  consideration,  and  report 
at  a  future  meeting  some  plan  by  which  the  conditions- 


PLAN  TO  PREVENT  FUTURE  DEFICITS.       213 

-specified  could  be  met   and   the   offered   gift    be   rendered 
available. 

The  Committee  in  due  time  reported,  submitting  and 
recommending  a  plan  deemed  adequate  to  the  accomplish- 
ment of  the  end  in  view,  which  plan  was  freely  discussed 
and  finally  adopted.  It  was  embodied  in  the  following 
resolutions,  to  wit : 

"Resolved,  That  the  Treasurer  of  the  Hopedale  Community 
be  instructed  to  assess  50  per  cent,  of  the  dividends  due,  on 
the  Joint-Stock  owned  by  members  and  others  resident  on  the 
Community  domain  (the  Stock  of  E.  D.  Draper,  Matthew 
•Sutcliffe  and  Charles  May  excepted),  and  a  sum  not  exceeding 
8  per  cent,  of  the  whole  on  all  wages  paid  under  the  opera- 
tions of  said  Stock  for  the  past  year  to  members,  probationers 
and  dependents,  for  the  purpose  of  creating  a  fund  to  be 
devoted  to  the  payment  of  the  dividends  now  due  on  Stock; 
Provided  that  the  Directory  have  power  to  make  any  abate- 
ment on  said  assessment  that  in  their  judgment  may  appear 
necessary  and  proper. 

"Resolved,  That  the  managers  of  the  several  branches  of 
industry  in  the  Community  be  hereby  instructed  to  enter  into 
such  an  agreement  with  the  employes  in  their  respective 
departments  as  that,  from  and  after  the  first  day  of  January, 
1851,  10  per  cent,  of  all  wages  agreed  upon  shall  be  retained 
in  the  hands  of  the  Treasurer  of  the  Community,  for  the 
purpose  of  establishing  a  contingent  fund  from  which  to 
liquidate  any  deficit  that  may  exist  in  respect  to  the  dividends 
due  on  Joint-Stock  at  the  end  of  the  year;  with  the  under- 
standing that  the  said  employes  have  the  right  to  demand 
whatever  portion  of  the  sum  retained  has  not  been  used  for 
the  purpose  specified,  and  nothing  more." 

These  resolutions  having  been  made  a  part  of  the  eco- 
nomical policy  of  the  Community,  the  Treasurer  was  then 
instructed  "to  declare  a  dividend  on  Joint-Stock  of  four 
per  cent,  per  annum  for  the  two  years  ending  Dec.  31. 
1850,  payable  in  Stock  or  equivalent  credits  on  account, 
subject  to  the  reductions  and  offsets  prescribed  in  the 
foregoing  resolves." 


214  THE   HOPEDALE   COMMUNITY. 

In  order  to  secure  unity  of  action  on  the  part  of  the 
several  managers  of  business  in  respect  to  the  carrying 
into  effect  the  newly  established  policy  towards  employes, 
and  gain  the  end  sought  with  the  least  possible  friction 
or  cause  of  complaint,  it  was  at  an  adjourned  meeting 
ordered  that  they  hold  quarterly  gatherings  for  mutual 
conference  and  counsel  touching  the  condition  and  pros- 
pects of  the  particular  branches  of  industry  under  their 
charge  and  the  general  monetary  affairs  of  the  Commu- 
nity. 

It  has  already  been  indicated  that  we  of  the  Hopedale 
Community  were  sympathetically  disposed  towards  all  the 
movements  and  enterprises  of  our  day  and  time  which 
contemplated  a  radical  transformation  of  the  social  rela- 
tions of  men  —  a  reconstruction  of  human  society.  Of 
these  there  were  many,  of  many  a  kind  and  name.  With 
some  of  them  we  were  largely  in  agreement  as  to  princi- 
ples and  methods,  with  others  we  were  as  largely  in 
disagreement,  though  our  ends  were  avowedly  the  same. 
Occasional  correspondence  was  carried  on  between  us  and 
them,  an  instance  of  which  may  properly  be  given  here 
as  illustrative  of  the  feeling  of  other  workers  in  the  same 
field  with  ourselves,  though  on  quite  different  lines,  towards 
us.  It  is  in  the  form  of  a  letter  from  M.  Etienne  Cabet, 
an  eminent  French  Communist,  who,  about  two  years 
before  it  was  written,  with  some  three  hundred  others  — 
men,  women  and  children  —  had  taken  up  his  abode  upon 
the  vacated  Morman  estate  at  Nauvoo,  Ills.,  and  estab- 
lished there  a  Community  according  to  his  own  distinctive 
ideal.  The  original  was  in  the  French  language,  a  trans- 
lation of  which  by  Edmund  Soward,  one  of  our  scholarly 
members,  reads  as  follows  : 

"Nauvoo,  March  31,  1851. 
"To  our  Friends  at  Hopedale: 

"  Dear  Brethren :  —  I  have  received  the  letter  which  you 
wrote  me  last  June;  likewise  your  Constitution  and  the  pam- 


THE   ICARIAN   COMMUNITY.  215 

phlet  accompanying  it.  I  was  desirous  of  answering  it  imme- 
diately but  was  so  overwhelmed  with  business  that  it  was  not 
possible. 

"I  perceive  with  much  satisfaction  that  the  object  of  your 
Community  is  the  same  as  ours,  though  our  methods  may  be 
somewhat  different;  for  you  aim  as  we  do  at  the  improvement 
of  mankind.  Therefore  we  extend  to  you  the  hand  of  brotherly 
love  and  pray  for  your  success. 

"We  publish  an  Icarian  paper  called  the  'Popular  Tribune,' 
ten  numbers  of  which  have  appeared  and  been  sent  to  you. 
The  next  number  will  contain  the-  sketch  of  your  history,  your 
Declaration  of  Principles,  forming  the  first  article  of  your 
Constitution,  and  your  letter  of  June  last. 

"As  soon  as  we  get  one  of  our  works  translated  into  English 
we  will  send  it  to  you.  If  you  desire  it,  we  will  send  you  in 
French  our  two  principal  works,  *  Travels  in  Icaria '  and  *  True 
Christianity.' 

"  Accept,  I  pray  you,  my  fraternal  salutations. 

"  CABET." 

Nearly  a  year  before  this  letter  came  to  hand  the 
author  had  written  to  Uro.  A.  G.  Spalding  acknowledging 
the  receipt  of  several  numbers  of  our  little  paper  and 
giving  some  little  account  of  himself  and  of  his  labors 
in  behalf  of  a  new  social  state.  Jn  that  communication 
he  says  : 

"  I  am  a  Communist.  My  doctrine  is  the  same  as  that  of 
Christianity  in  its  primitive  purity.  Our  fundamental  princi- 
ple is,  'The  Fraternity  of  man  and  of  nations,'  the  essential 
outcome  of  which  is  *  Equality,  Liberty,  Unity.'  Our  society  is 
based  upon  Education  and  Labor,  upon  Marriage  and  the  Family. 
We  admit  fully  the  epitome  of  your  doctrines.  According  to 
our  views,  God,  or  the  Supreme  Being,  or  Nature,  is  Love, 
Goodness,  Kindness,  Justice,  etc.  .  .  . 

"We  call  our  society 'The  Icarian  Community,'  or  'Icaria.' 
I  have  unfolded  my  system  in  a  large  work,  entitled  '  Travels 
in  Icaria,'  written  in  London  during  an  exile  of  five  years,  and 
published  in  Paris  in  1840.  I  have  published  forty  other  works 
for  the  purpose  of  developing  and  maintaining  my  theories,  and 
a  large  volume,  entitled  '  True  Christianity,'  to  prove  that  our 


216  THE   HOPEDALE   COMMUNITY. 

Communism  is  the  same  thing  as  Christianity  at  its  origin.  I 
have  published  also  a  Journal  under  the  name  of  '  Le  Popu- 
laire,'  and  a  propagandism  of  ten  years  has  procured  me  a 
host  of  supporters  in  France  and  Europe.  .  .  . 

"We  (at  Xauvoo)  are  about  300  men,  women,  and  children; 
we  expect  many  others  in  the  autumn  and  we  are  told  that  a 
very  large  number  will  follow  later.  .  .  .  We  live  in  com- 
munity, having  separate  apartments,  but  eating,  laboring,  pro- 
ducing together.  We  have  among  us  workmen  in  the  principal 
branches  of  business,  and  lands  that  we  cultivate.  We  have 
purchased  the  remains  of  the  Mormon  temple  and  intend  to 
reconstruct  it  for  the  purpose  of  establishing  in  it  our  schools, 
our  assembly  rooms  and  debating  hall,  a  great  refectory  for  a 
thousand  persons,  and  sleeping  apartments.  Our  government 
is  radically  republican,  founded  on  Fraternity,  Equality,  and 
Liberty." 

M.  Cabet  was  a  man  of  eminent  ability,  of  high  char- 
acter, and  of  a  broad,  generous,  humanitarian  spirit. 
He  made  great  sacrifices  for  the  sake  of  his  principles, 
and  gained  a  large  following  as  an  advocate  of  social 
reform.  His  chief  work,  Travels  in  Icaria,  passed  through 
five  editions  in  about  the  same  number  of,  years,  and 
exerted  a  widely  extended  influence  among  his  fellow-coun- 
trymen. He  gathered  about  him  persons  of  exemplary 
habits  and  noble  instincts,  and  the  colony  he  established 
at  Nauvoo  was  noted  for  the  high  moral  tone  that  pre- 
vailed in  it,  and  for  the  industry,  purity,  and  honor  of 
its  population.  Nevertheless,  differences  of  opinion  in 
regard  to  details  of  administration  and  matters  of  public 
policy  soon  sprang  up,  which,  fostered  by  persistent 
discussion,  at  length  produced  such  disaffection  and 
alienation  of  feeling  as  to  embarrass,  confuse,  and  work 
injury  to  the  whole  undertaking,  and  finally  cause  its 
dissolution.  Cabet  retired  to  St.  Louis,  Mo.  where  he 
died  in  1856,  his  disappointment,  mortification,  and  grief 
at  the  failure  of  his  magnificent  plans  and  ambitions, 
hastening,  it  is  said,  the  event. 


INDUSTRY,    PURVEYANCE,   AND   TRADE.  217 

During  the  year  1851  action  was  taken  making  the 
Community  an  Insurance  Company  for  the  protection  of 
members,  probationers,  and  others  against  loss  or  damage 
by  fire  and  other  casualties,  and  somewhat  stringent  regu- 
lations respecting  the  care  of  buildings  and  other  property 
liable  to  loss  or  damage,  the  use  of  inflammatory  articles 
and  substances,  the  exercise  of  suitable  precautions,  etc., 
were  adopted.  Provision  was  also  made  for  the  appoint- 
ment of  three  Wardens  who  should  have  sole  charge  of 
men  and  means  employed  to  suppress  any  given  confla- 
gration or  to  rescue  property  at  any  time  exposed  to 
calamitous  destruction.  And  all  persons  present  on  such 
occasions  were  admonished  to  yield  cheerful  and  ready 
obedience  to  these  Wardens. 

An  ordinance  was  also  passed  u  Respecting  Industry, 
Purveyance,  and  Trade,"  the  purpose  of  which  was  "to 
distribute,  define,  and  intensify,  the  oversight  of  business ; 
to  encourage  useful  talent  and  skill ;  to  give  every  member 
of  the  Community,  if  possible,  an  appropriate  sphere  of 
enterprise ;  to  increase  productive  industry  and  income ; 
to  facilitate  the  necessary  purveyance  and  exchange ;  and 
to  establish  a  well-ordered  system  of  trade."  Under  this 
enactment  regulations  were  adopted  calculated  to  afford 
every  one  so  disposed  and  -competent,  either  by  himself 
or  in  company  with  others,  an  opportunity  to  set  up  and 
carry  on  any  industry  or  handicraft  pleasing  to  him ;  to 
have  all  work  in  the  several  branches  operated  under 
Community  auspices  done  by  the  piece,  the  quantity,  the 
job,  etc. ;  to  allow  persons  qualified  to  exercise  greater 
skill  or  responsibility  than  they  were  ordinarily  doing,  the 
privilege  of  such  exercise  and  furnish  facilities  therefor ; 
thus  developing  in  all  craftsmen  and  employes  whatever 
latent  capabilities  they  might  possess  and  a  deeper 
sense  of  personal  accountability,  thereby  contributing  to 
a  more  complete  and  self-respecting  manhood  and  so  to 
the  great  ends  for  which  the  Community  was  founded. 


218  THE   HOPEDALE   COMMUNITY. 

The  regulations  also  provided  for  the  establishment  of 
what  was  called  4'The  Hopedale  Commercial  Exchange," 
which  was  to  act  as  a  sort  of  Commission  and  Clearing 
House,  for  the  distribution  and  sale  of  the  various  prod- 
ucts of  industry  made  ready  for  market  on  the  Commu- 
nity domain  and  for  the  supply  of  material  entering  into 
the  same,  together  with  the  multiform  necessaries  of 
human  consumption ;  and  also  for  the  transaction  of  any 
other  kind  of  business  in  the  way  of  traffic,  barter,  or 
mercantile  agency,  conducive  to  the  financial,  economical, 
industrial  prosperity  and  well-being  of  the  Community 
and  of  all  those  connected  with  it. 

TJie  Hopedale  Educational  Home.  The  year  now  in 
review  was  especially  memorable  for  the  inauguration  of 
a  project,  blasted,  alas,  in  its  very  budding,  which,  in  its 
nature,  its  constructive  form,  and  contemplated  results, 
was  among  the  most  important  and  ambitious  ever  gen- 
erated under  Community  auspices  and  devised  as  a 
constituent  part  of  our  general  system  of  social  regenera- 
tion and  of  our  ideal  type  of  rightly-ordered  human 
society.  It  was  nothing  less  than  the  founding  of  a 
great  Educational  Establishment,  the  characteristic  feat- 
ures and  predominating  purpose  of  which  may  be  learned 
from  the  Prospectus,  published  and  widely  distributed 
among  the  friends  of  moral  and  social  reform  and  phil- 
anthropists, wherever  residing,  the  more  essential  and 
explanatory  portions  of  which  are  herewith  given  to  the 
reader. 

"  PROSPECTUS 

OF 

THE  HOPEDALE  EDUCATIONAL  HOME. 

"One  great  want  of  the  age  is  an  Educational  Institution,, 
in  which  the  sons  and  daughters  of  the  common  people,  espec- 
ially those  friendly  to  the  great  Reforms  and  to  constructive 
Progress,  may  receive  a  comprehensive  and  well-balanced  devel- 
opment of  all  their  natural  faculties.  An  Educational  Home 


HOPEDALE   EDUCATIONAL   HOME.  219 

for  children  and  youth  is  demanded  —  one  pre-eminently  worthy 
of  the  confidence  of  good  parents  and  guardians;  where  they 
can  trust  their  young  without  hesitation;  where  by  day  and 
night,  in  study,  in  active  exercise,  in  recreation,  in  the  parlor, 
in  the  dining-room,  in  the  dormitory,  in  social  intercourse,  and 
in  public  places,  they  may  be  judiciously  cared  for  with  parent- 
al fidelity;  where  they  may  be  trained  to  useful  industry, 
provident  economy  and  self-subsisting  enterprise;  where  their 
moral  principles  and  character  will  be  regarded  as  of  funda- 
mental importance;  where  every  requisite  attention  will  be 
paid  to  their  physical  health,  whether  in  the  way  of  preserva- 
tion or  recovery;  and  where,  by  due  processes,  they  may  be 
inducted  into  a  thorough  knowledge  of  all  the  scholastic  arts 
and  sciences  necessary  to  give  them  a  reputable  standing  in 
the  intellectual  world.  Such  an  institution  was  contemplated 
by  the  projectors  of  the  Hopedale  Community  as  an  integral 
department  of  their  operational  system.  It  has  been  deferred 
only  till  the  material  interests  and  social  arrangements  of  the 
Community  should  become  sufficiently  consolidated  to  insure  it 
a  good  foundation.  That  time  has  at  length  arrived.  Mean- 
while the  urgent  inquiry  has  come  in  from  every  quarter,  'Can 
you  receive  into  your  charge  for  education,  my  son  or  daugh- 
ter, my  nephew,  niece  or  grandchild,  my  brother,  sister,  or 
ward?'  We  have  been  obliged  to  reply,  'Not  yet!  We  can 
do  nothing  like  justice  to  your  child.  We  have  no  suitable 
establishment,  accommodations  or  means,  but  we  will  have  the 
institution  needed  when  our  preliminary  work  shall  have  been 
performed.'  .  .  .  The  thing  is  now  to  be  undertaken  in 
earnest;  and  by  the  favor  of  Heaven  it  shall  be  accomplished. 
We  offer  you  our  plan  and  solicit  your  pecuniary  aid.  Are 
you  ready  to  give  us  a  helping  hand? 

"  To  erect  a  suitable  edifice  and  furnish  the  accompanying 
indispensables  for  two  hundred  pupils  and  students,  we  must 
raise  Twenty-Jive  Thousand  Dollars.  We  are  sure  this  can  be 
done.  Let  every  friend  of  the  cause  make  ready  accordingly. 
The  practicability  of  this  will  be  more  credible  to  some  when 
they  understand  the  details  of  our  plan.  A  responsible  Asso- 
ciation has  been  formed  with  the  full  sanction  of  The  Hopedale 
Community,  and  lands  assigned  to  our  permanent  use  for  the 
purposes  of  a  building  site,  public  grounds  and  cultivation. 
The  Constitutional  Compact  of  our  Association  is  herewith 


220  THE   HOPEDALE   COMMUNITY. 

presented  as  explanatory  of  our  grand  aim  and  general  method 
of  carrying  forward  the  enterprise.  Let  it  be  carefully  read 
and  considered. 

CONSTITUTION. 

"Under  the  auspices  of  the  Hopedale  Community  and  in 
harmony  with  the  various  operative  branches  thereof,  the 
undersigned  hereby  unite  in  an  Educational  Association  to  be 
called  THE  HOPEDALE  EDUCATIONAL  HOME.  And  we  do 
ordain  for  the  organization  and  government  of  the  said  Asso- 
ciation the  following  CONSTITUTION. 

ARTICLE  I. 

•'SECTION  1.  The  grand  aim  and  work  of  this  Association 
.shall  be  to  educate  the  young  who  may  be  entrusted  to  its 
care  for  that  purpose;  to  develop  properly,  thoroughly,  and 
harmoniously  all  their  natural  faculties,  moral,  intellectual,  and 
physical;  to  give  them,  if  possible,  a  high-toned  moral  char- 
acter based  on  scrupulous  conscientiousness  and  radical  Chris- 
tian principles  —  a  sound  mind,  well  cultivated,  stored  with 
useful  knowledge,  and  capable  of  inquiring,  reasoning,  and 
judging  for  itself  —  a  healthful,  vigorous  body,  suitably  fed, 
exercised,  clothed,  lodged,  and  recreated  —  good  domestic  habits, 
including  personal  cleanliness,  order,  propriety,  agreeableness, 
and  generous  social  qualities  —  industrial  executiveness  and  skill 
in  one  or  more  of  the  avocations  necessary  to  a  comfortable 
subsistence,  and  withal  practical  economy  in  pecuniary  matters. 
In  fine,  to  qualify  them,  so  far  as  a  thorough  and  comprehen- 
sive education  can  do  it,  for  solid  usefulness  and  happiness  in 
all  the  rightful  pursuits  and  relations  of  life. 

"  SEC.  2.  Nothing  shall  be  taught,  encouraged,  or  allowed 
within  the  province  of  this  Association,  obviously  repugnant  to 
the  Constitution,  By-Laws,  and  Regulations  of  The  Hopedale 
Community. 

"  SEC.  3.  This  Association  acknowledges  its  obligation  as  a 
regularly  organized  branch  of  Community  operations,  to  aid 
equitably  all  the  other  branches  in  fulfilling  the  general  guar- 
anties respecting  employment,  education,  moral  order,  and 
succor  to  the  needy." 

Articles  II,  III,  IV,  and  V,  of  this  Constitution  pro- 
vide for  the  membership  and  organization  of  the  Associa- 


HOPEDALE  EDUCATIONAL  HOME.         221 

tion,  the  mode  of  raising  and  using  money,  of  holding 
and  managing  real  estate  and  other  kinds  of  property, 
and  for  the  proper  ordering  of  the  Institution  which  it 
proposed  to  build  and  equip  after  it  should  have  been 
made  ready  for  practical  operation,  the  minutiae  of  which 
need  not  be  recited  here.  The  document  closes  with  the 
following  appeal : 

"  Thus,  friends,  you  have  a  full  view  of  our  general  plan  and 
system  of  operations.  We  trust  the  undertaking  commends 
itself  to  your  hearts  and  understandings  as  at  once  benevolent, 
noble,  and  practicable.  What  more  need  be  said?  Pardon  a 
word  from  the  General  Agent  (an  office  to  which  I  was  appointed 
November  25,  before  the  Prospectus  was  issued)  on  his  own 
individual  responsibility.  I  make  my  appeal  to  all  over  whom 
it  is  my  good  fortune  to  possess  personal  influence.  My  heav- 
enly Father,  the  All-wise  Lover  of  Humanity,  has  set  my  heart 
on  the  accomplishment  of  this  work.  He  has  impressed  on 
my  soul  the  assurance  that  He  will  open  the  way  before  me, 
give  me  the  favor  of  many  willing  patrons,  guide  me  by  His 
suggestive  wisdom  in  the  adjustment  of  details,  and  crown  the 
enterprise  with  a  glorious  success.  Therefore  have  I  made  it 
the  next,  perhaps  the  last,  leading  object  of  my  life.  I  shall 
give  myself  to  it  with  all  the  zeal  and  judgment  of  which  I 
am  capable,  —  firmly  persuaded  that  the  Guardian  Hand  which 
has  hitherto  sustained  me  in  my  labors  for  the  good  of  man- 
kind will  carry  me  triumphantly  through.  Who,  then,  will 
remember  THE  HOPEDALE  EDUCATIONAL  HOME  in  their  wills? 
Already  liberal  bequests  have  been  made  to  it.  Who  will  come 
forward  ungrudgingly  to  donate  or  loan  it  money?  Already  a 
single  friend  has  pledged  it  one  tenth  of  the  twenty-five  thou- 
sand dollars  asked  for;  .  .  .  who  will  follow  this  example 
of  liberality?  Who  on  visiting  the  Institution  a  few  years 
hence,  admiring  its  edifice,  passing  through  its  well-ordered 
apartments,  beholding  the  cheerful  faces  of  its  youthful  inmates 
at  their  recitations,  studies,  or  innocent  recreations,  and  con- 
templating the  blessings  to  follow,  will  have  secured  the  heart- 
thrilling  satisfaction  of  saying,  as  he  pronounces  a  fresh 
benedication  on  the  establishment,  ' /,  also,  was  an  original 
and  willing  patron  of  THE  HOPEDALE  EDUCATIONAL  HOME.' 

"AoiN  BALLOU,  Gen'l  Agent." 


222  THE   HOPEDALE   COMMUNITY. 

It  will  be  evident  to  all  readers  of  these  pages,  that 
this  enterprise,  though  crudely  anticipated  and  dimly  fore- 
seen by  my  brethren  in  common  with  myself  at  the  outset 
of  our  social  experiment,  and  though  projected  under  the 
favoring  approval  and  assistance  of  our  Community,  many 
of  whose  members  were  profoundly  interested  in  it  and 
joined  me  in  the  endeavor  to  make  it  a  notable  feature 
of  our  general  polity  at  Hopedale,  was  largely  a  child  of 
my  own  begetting  —  a  creation  of  my  own  forming  hand. 
To  me  had  fallen  the  lot  of  putting  into  definite  form 
the  idea  from  which  it  had  sprung  —  of  devising  the  plan 
by  which  our  original  purpose  in  this  behalf  was  to  be 
at  an  early  day  realized.  Long  time  had  we  waited  for 
our  Community  to  attain  a  position  in  which  it  could 
foster  and  promote  so  gigantic  an  undertaking,  but  the 
hour  had  now  struck  when  it  seemed  as  if  a  beginning 
should  be  made  in  the  work  of  putting  our  long  deferred 
purposes  in  the  matter  into  execution.  And  this  feeling 
was  confirmed  in  my  own  mind  as  also  in  the  minds  of 
others  by  the  fact  that  my  dear  son,  Adiu  Augustus,  was 
just  entering  upon  active  life,  and  that  the  founding  of 
the  proposed  Educational  Home  at  Hopedale,  the  princi- 
palship  of  which  he  was  amply  qualified  to  assume,  would 
open  to  him  a  sphere  of  activity  for  coming  years  every 
way  gratifying  to  his  tastes  and  ambitions,  pleasing  to 
his  parents  and  friends,  and  most  inspiring  in  its  promise 
of  usefulness  and  happiness  to  the  world.  He  was  the 
only  sou  of  his  mother  and  myself  dwelling  with  us  upon 
the  shores  of  mortality.  Upon  him  we  had  lavished  the 
warmest  affection  of  our  hearts  and  built  our  fondest  and 
sublimest  hopes  for  the  future.  We  had  given  him  the 
best  home  training  of  which  we  were  capable ;  we  had 
furnished  him  with  such  opportunities  for  attending  school 
as  were  at  our  command,  and  had  rejoiced  at  the  con- 
scientious fidelity  with  which  he  had  discharged  the  duties 
devolving  upon  him  there  and  at  the  evidences  of  native 


ADIN   AUGUSTUS   BALLOU.  223 

talent  and  thorough  scholarship  he  had  there  displayed ; 
he  had  passed  through  the  regular  course  of  study  at  the 
State  Normal  School  at  Bridgewater,  Mass.,  graduating 
with  honor  and  winning  for  himself  the  confidence  and 
high  regard  of  his  instructors ;  he  had  taken  a  supple- 
mentary course  of  a  single  term  under  the  same  tuition 
and  had  so  commended  himself  to  the  authorities  in 
charge  of  the  Institution  as  to  have  been  invited  to  the 
position  of  Junior  Assistant  Principal  on  the  Board  of 
Instruction,  the  duties  of  which  he  had  already  taken  up 
and  was  discharging  with  praiseworthy  ability  and  success. 
What  reason  and  occasion  had  we  all,  parents  and  friends, 
to  look  forward  with  high  expectation  and  exulting  joy 
to  the  near  future,  when  his  brilliant  talents  and  scholarly 
attainments  would  shine  forth  resplendent  at  the  head  of 
an  Academic  Establishment  in  our  very  midst ;  an  estab- 
lishment in  which  he  had  already  manifested  a  profound 
personal  interest,  and  to  the  development  of  which  he 
had  lent  a  helping  hand,  and  for  the  promotion  of  which 
his  last  manual  labor  on  earth  was  expended.  Alas !  how 
little  did  any  of  us  dream  that  two  brief  months,  as 
time  is  measured  by  us,  would  give  his  mortal  body  to 
the  grave,  translate  his  spirit  to  immortal  abodes,  and 
blast  all  our  grand  and  noble  schemes  built  on  the 
promise  of  his  long-continued  earthly  career.  Yet  so  it 
was,  as  will  be  duly  seen  a  few  pages  farther  on. 

The  Community  was  at  this  time  —  near  the  close  of 
1851 — enjoying  a  season  of  unusual  prosperity,  and 
those  who  were  at  the  head  of  its  affairs  indulged  once 
more  in  emotions  of  exuberant  self-gratulatiou  and  in 
pgeans  of  enthusiastic  rejoicing.  They  felt  that  all  seri- 
ous obstacles  to  the  final  triumph  of  their  cause  had  been 
effectually  overcome  and  that  the  future  of  their  enterprise 
at  Hopedale  was  assured  beyond  all  doubt  or  peradven- 
ture.  With  them,  virtually,  "Hope  had  changed  to  glad 
fruition,  faith  to  sight,  and  prayer  to  praise."  It  takes 


224  THE   HOPEDALE   COMMUNITY. 

many  dark  waves  of  adversity  to  drown  the  extravagant 
expectations  of  such  people  and  suppress  their  surcharged 
aspirations.  I  was  myself  much  elated  at  our  condition 
and  prospects,  and  deemed  it  a  suitable  time  to  retire 
from  the  Presidency,  a  position  I  had  occupied  from  the 
beginning,  feeling  that  I  was  no  longer  essential  to  the 
wise  and  safe  management  of  affairs,  and  trusting  that 
all  would  go  well  with  another  at  the  helm  to  direct  our 
richly-freighted  bark  on  a  favoring  tide  to  its  destined 
haven  of  successful  security  and  untroubled  peace.  I 
therefore  signified  to  my  brethren  my  determination  not 
to  allow  my  name  to  be  used  in  the  canvass  for  official 
servants  of  the  Community  at  the  approaching  Annual 
Meeting  in  January,  1852,  and  prepared  an  elaborate 
Valedictory  Address  to  be  delivered  on  that  occasion. 
An  account  of  the  meeting  as  it  appeared  in  the  columns 
of  The  Practical  Christian  is  for  obvious  reasons  given 
entire. 

"  ANNUAL  COMMUNITY  MEETING. 

"  The  annual  meeting  of  The  Hopedale  Community  for  1852 
took  place  on  January  14th  at  the  Chapel.  An  unprecedented 
attendance,  interest,  unanimity,  and  cheerfulness  characterized 
the  occasion.  The  proceedings  commenced  between  nine  and 
ten  o'clock  A.  M.  and  continued,  with  a  brief  intermission,  till 
late  in  the  afternoon,  when  an  adjournment  was  made  to  the 
23d  inst.  for  the  completion  of  miscellaneous  business.  The 
general  Financial  Report,  presented  by  Bro.  E.  D.  Draper,  the 
Treasurer,  exhibited  a  more  successful  year's  operations  than 
ever  before,  and  gave  promising  indications  of  increasing  pros- 
perity in  the  future.  For  the  first  time  in  the  history  of  the 
Community  it  had  handsomely  sustained  itself  —  compensated  its 
operatives,  cleared  its  incidental  expenses,  borne  its  losses,  been, 
able  to  declare  the  highest  dividend  allowed  by  its  Constitution, 
to  Joint-Stock  capital,  viz.,  four  per  cent.,  and  secured  a  small 
excess  of  clear  profits.  We  are  permitted  to  make  the  following 
Extracts  from  the  Report. 

"'Beloved  Friends  and  Associates:  I  have  the  pleasure  of 
making  a  more  favorable  report  of  the  Community's,  standing. 


ANNUAL   KEPORT   OF    TREASURER,    1852.  225 

financially,  than  ever  before.  That  word,  Deficit,  which  has 
been  rung  so  much  among  us,  and  especially  among  the  enemies 
of  our  enterprise,  will  not  have  to  be  used  by  me  as  applicable 
to  the  operations  of  the  past  year.  It  is  true  that  the  sale  of 
hcuse-lots  has  been  a  greater  source  of  income  than  for  some 
years  before.  But  there  has  been  decided  improvement  in 
several  branches  of  business,  which  will  be  shown  in  the 
reports  to  be  given  by  the  managers.  I  think  the  gains  made 
are  attributable  to  several  causes.  The  plan  of  jobbing,  or 
piecing  out  the  work  has  been  one  of  the  greatest  of  these; 
and  in  all  cases  has  given  better  satisfaction  to  those  who 
have  done  the  work,  and  has  taken  much  responsibility  from 
the  managers. 

"  '  Having  stated  the  present  financial  standing  of  the  Com- 
munity, let  me  anticipate  a  little.  I  think  it  safe  to  prophesy 
that  very  few  deficits  will  come  hereafter,  unless  by  fire  or 
flood  or  some  other  casualty  we  suffer  loss,  and  for  several 
reasons:  First  and  foremost  are  the  new  arrangements  adopted 
by  the  Community  in  November  last  and  now  being  put  into 
operation,  and  also  the  formation  of  several  new  branches  of 
industry.  Among  these,  and  not  the  least  is  The  Commercial 
Exchange.  This  branch,  I  think,  will  greatly  extend  the  busi- 
ness of  the  Community  with  a  very  small  addition  of  capital, 
and  furnish  employment  for  many  more  operatives  than  we 
now  have  on  our  domain. 

"  '  The  new  arrangements  will  give  a  very  decided  improve- 
ment to  the  Agricultural  branch  which  has  now  to  stagger 
under  a  heavy  load,  viz. :  its  four  per  cent,  and  taxes  amounting 
to  about  $850.00  per  annum,  with  large  tracts  of  land  unim- 
proved. The  present  policy  separates  it  into  several  depart- 
ments which  will  divide  the  responsibility  very  much,  and  it 
is  hoped  increase  the  profits.  Heretofore  one  man  had  the 
whole  to  manage  and  all  the  accounts  (which  were  legion)  to 
keep,  and  this  has  left  him  but  little  time  to  perform  manual 
labor  with  those  employed  or  to  prosecute  the  different  improve- 
ments as  ought  to  have  been  done  and  as  will  be  done  when 
the  division  is  completed  and  several  responsible  persons  are 
put  in  charge  of  the  different  departments.  In  consequence 
of  having  large  tracts  of  land  without  men  or  means  to  culti- 
vate them,  we  have  run  behindhand  in  this  branch ;  and  some 
of  our  brethren  have  sighed  for  a  new  location  —  a  fatter  estate. 

15 


226  THE   HOPEDALE   COMMUNITY. 

But  I  contend  that  on  our  domain  we  have  resources  hitherto 
undeveloped  and  unused,  which,  with  our  proximity  to  good 
markets,  will  yet  pay  our  landed  investments  well.  We  have 
from  75  to  100  acres  of  cranberry  meadows,  which,  with  small 
outlay,  can  be  made  to  yield  in  a  few  years  greater  profits 
than  we  now  realize  from  our  entire  territory,  woodlands  and 
all.  "  Wait  a  little  longer,"  and  with  the  blessing  of  heaven 
we  will  demonstrate  to  all  that  we  have  a  good  agricultural 
basis  for  our  Community,  and  that  agricultural  activities  will 
pay  well,  even  here.  Then  the  principal  objection  urged  by 
some  against  our  present  location  will  have  been  done  away.' 

"Interesting  Reports  were  made  by  many  of  the  Managers 
of  Branches,  by  the  Board  of  Education,  etc.,  all  evincing  the 
growing  intelligence,  business  talent,  order  and  consolidation 
of  our  social  superstructure.  Before  proceeding  to  the  choice 
of  officers  for  the  ensuing  year,  Adin  Ballou,  hitherto  President 
of  the  Community,  delivered  a  valedictory  address,  declining  a 
re-election  to  any  of  the  active  executive  stations  heretofore 
occupied  by  him;  which  address,  with  the  response  thereto,  is 
published  below. 

"Next  followed  the  election  of  official  servants  for  the  year 
ending  with  the  second  Wednesday  of  January,  1853,  viz.:  EBEN- 
EZER  D.  DRAPER,  President;  ALMOX  THWING,  WILLIAM  H.  HUM- 
PHREY, DUDLEY  B.  CHAPMAN,  WILLIAM  W.  COOK,  Directory; 
CATHARINE  G.  MUNYAN,  Recorder;  LEMUEL  MUNYAN,  Treasurer; 
WILLIAM  H.  FISH,  CAROLINE  M.  MAY,  EDMUND  SOWARD,  Board 
of  Education;  DANIEL  H.  CARTER,  Steward;  ABBY  J.  SPALDING. 
HENRY  LILLIE,  WM.  G.  COMSTOCK,  EMELINE  H.  BEAL,  ANNA  T. 
DRAPER,  Council:  ALMIRA  B.  HUMPHREY,  ALMON  THWING, 
CATHARINE  G.  MUNYAN,  EDMUND  SOWARD,  Relief  Committee. 

"  VALEDICTORY  ADDRESS. 

"  'Beloved  Associates:  Having  presided  for  more  than  ten 
years  over  the  affairs  of  this  young  Commonwealth  as  its  chief 
executive  servant,  besides  occupying  sundry  minor  official 
stations  therein,  I  now  deem  it  my  privilege  to  decline  for 
the  future  these  honors  and  responsibilities.  I  consent  only 
to  retain,  during  your  convenience,  the  less  changeable  ami 
active  office  of  Trustee.  In  retiring  from  official  authority  and 
direction,  I  may  be  permitted  to  state  the  motives  that  actuate 
me,  and  to  offer  a  few  words  of  valedictory  reflection  and 
counsel. 


VALEDICTORY   ADDRESS.  227 

"  *  My  first  motive  is  a  desire  to  promote  your  improvement 
and  solidity  in  self-government.  As  a  local  Community  you  no 
longer  need  my  personal  superintendence  or  official  services. 
The  difficulties  of  your  experimental  era  have  nearly  passed 
away.  You  are  well  organized  under  a  polity  of  arrangements 
at  once  judicious,  practical  and  flexible  to  your  further  growth. 
You  have  become  accustomed  somewhat  to  orderly  methods  of 
procedure  and  you  have  a  sufficiency  of  material  in  your 
membership  for  all  official  purposes.  It  is  best  for  you  to 
bring  that  material  into  use,  to  develop  your  own  internal 
capabilities  and  to  exercise  all  your  talents  for  self-government. 
I  stand  out  of  your  way  that  I  may  not  be  a  hindrance  to  such 
progress  and  consolidation. 

"  '  My  second  motive  is  a  desire  to  witness  results.  I  have 
assisted  in  constructing  and  setting  in  motion  a  system  of 
social  machinery  which  I  feel  confident  will  operate  happily 
for  mankind  under  the  superintendence  of  any  fairly  honest 
and  intelligent  management.  Some  have  predicted  that  it 
must  soon  fall  into  disorder  and  become  impracticable  when 
I  shall  have  ceased  to  be  at  the  head  of  it.  I  do  not  believe 
them  and  I  wish  to  see  their  predictions  falsified  by  demon- 
stration to  the  contrary.  I  wish  to  see  the  intrinsic  merits  of 
our  social  system  vindicated  against  all  such  suspicions. 
Therefore  let  me  stand  aside  and  cease  to  exercise  official 
authority.  Let  me  not  even  be  called  to  interfere  by  counsel, 
•except  in  unusual  emergencies.  Let  me  become,  as  nearly  as 
the  nature  of  the  case  admits,  what  I  expect  to  be  after  death, 
a  silent  spectator  of  your  proceedings,  though  still  a  suggestive 
guardian  in  the  hour  of  danger.  Go  forward,  then,  and  act 
yourselves.  Show  forth  the  measure  of  your  love  and  wisdom. 
Prosecute  your  well-begun  undertaking  to  a  glorious  consum- 
mation. Fall  not  out  by  the  way.  Disappoint  not  the  hopes 
that  cluster  around  your  social  standard.  Justify  my  confidence 
in  you;  actualize  my  ideal;  and  by  your  fidelity  realize  to  me 
my  cherished  anticipations  of  a  better  day  for  humanity's 
unfortunate  and  perishing  classes. 

"  « My  third  motive  is  a  desire  to  devote  my  energies  more 
concentratively  to  important  labors  in  other  departments  of  our 
great  regenerative  enterprise.  Think  not  that  I  consign  myself 
to  indolence  or  to  the  indulgence  of  a  curious  spectatorship.  I 
retire  from  one  sphere  of  duty  that  I  may  enter  the  more 


228  THE   HOPEDALE   COMMUNITY. 

undistractedly  on  another.  Our  excellent  social  system  is  to  be 
extended  to  the  ends  of  the  earth.  Its  great  basilar  principles 
are  to  be  promulgated.  The  minds  of  men  are  to  be  enlight- 
ened and  their  hearts  animated  by  the  true  faith,  piety, 
philanthropy  and  morality  of  Jesus,  as  comprised  in  what  we 
call  Practical  Christianity.  The  Word  is  to  be  preached,  written 
and  published  abroad.  A  new  order  of  Educational  Institutions, 
is  to  be  founded.  Other  Communities,  in  close  confederation 
with  yours,  are  to  be  established,  wherever  practicable.  The 
kingdom  of  God's  righteousness  and  peace  is  to  be  developed 
on  earth  as  never  before.  I  am  called  to  contribute  my  mite 
of  instrumentality  to  the  accomplishment  of  all  this.  I  shall 
have  no  excuse  for  standing  idle.  I  do  not  ungird  myself 
from  labor.  I  only  obey  the  Master's  orders  to  serve  in  other 
fields.  Dismiss  me  then  cheerfully  from  positions  where  I  am 
no  longer  needed.  Apply  yourselves  with  renewed  zeal  to  your 
duties  and  send  me  mantled  with  your  blessing  to  the  discharge 
of  mine. 

"  *  A  few  reflections.  The  universal  Father  moved  us  to- 
undertake  the  establishment  of  this  Community.  We  were 
bondmen  in  the  midst  of  the  old  social  Egypt.  He  caused 
the  light  to  shine  through  our  heavy  eyelids.  He  called  us  to 
seek  a  better  land  —  to  find  the  place  of  a  more  peaceful  city. 
His  Holy  Spirit  brought  unto  us  the  maturer  things  of  Christ's 
Kingdom.  He  showed  us  the  true  social  significance  and 
bearings  of  Christianity.  We  beheld  and  appreciated  the  out- 
lines of  a  divine  government  to  be  established  on  earth.  We 
took  our  scanty  substance  in  our  hands  and  departed  from  the 
old  church  and  state.  We  passed  through  the  sea  and  the 
desert,  led  on  by  protecting  angels.  But  like  Israel  of  old  we 
had  much  to  learn  by  dear  experience.  We  had  many  trials 
to  endure,  many  difficulties  to  overcome,  before  we  could  plant 
ourselves  in  the  goodly  heritage  which  now  is  spread  around  us. 

" '  The  voice  of  the  murmurer,  the  despiser  and  the  prophet  of 
failure  pained  the  ears  of  the  faithful  and  turned  away  from 
us  the  feet  of  the  unstable.  A  new  social  birth  had  to  take 
place,  fraught  with  pangs  and  struggles  and  haltings  between 
life  and  death.  But  the  issue  was  one  of  grateful  joy.  By 
degrees  the  infant  learned  to  breathe  the  vital  air  and  evinced 
an  assured  existence.  And  now,  grown  robust  by  wholesome 
discipline,  the  child  enters  on  its  youthful  stage,  able  to  tell 


VALEDICTORY   ADDRESS.  229 

in  triumph  the  story  of  its  own  precarious  nativity.  Yes,  our 
Community  proclaims  itself  established. 

"  '  Who  hath  watched  over  us  all  this  while,  wrought  all  these 
deliverances  and  secured  to  us  all  these  blessings?  Who  hath 
led  us  by  a  way  we  knew  not,  smoothed  the  rough  places, 
straightened  every  crookedness  and  turned  darkness  into  light 
before  us?  Who  hath  sent  the  false  prophet  away  ashamed, 
and  silenced  the  croakings  of  the  murmurer,  and  caused  the 
scorner  to  withold  his  reproaches,  and  plucked  up  the  roots 
of  bitterness  from  our  midst,  and  bruised  the  heel  that  lifted 
itself  against  the  faithful,  and  saved  us  from  ourselves  when  we 
unadvisedly  fell  into  error  and  sin?  It  is  the  Lord  our  God, 
the  Father  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  '  the  Giver  of  every  good 
and  perfect  gift.'  To  him  alone  be  all  praise,  thanksgiving 
and  glory.  He  hath  not  done  all  things  for  our  sakes  alone 
but  for  the  sake  of  our  common  humanity.  Not  because  of 
our  worth  or  wisdom  but  of  his  own  spontaneous  love  and 
wisdom.  Our  cause  was  not  our  own  but  His.  His  name  was 
engraven  as  with  steel  on  all  the  foundations  of  our  social 
fabric.  We  were  but  instruments  in  His  hand  for  the  begin- 
ning of  a  superstructure  in  which  He  purposes  to  bless  the 
world.  Therefore  for  His  own  infinite  love's  sake  towards 
our  race  hath  He  wrought  out  our  success,  and  crowned  us 
with  all  our  prosperities.  Let  us  re-echo  the  chant  of  the 
angels,  'Glory  to  God  in  the  highest,  and  on  earth  peace, 
good  will  among  men.' 

"  'Accept,  beloved  associates,  my  grateful  acknowledgments 
for  the  almost  unanimous  and  uniform  confidence,  sympathy 
and  co-operation  which  you  have  accorded  me  during  these 
ten  eventful  years.  As  your  elder  brother  and  fellow  servant, 
I  have  been  with  you  from  the  beginning.  I  have  participated 
with  you  in  all  your  experiences  of  woe  and  weal.  I  have  not 
coveted  your  silver  or  gold  or  goods;  but  have  sincerely  aimed 
always  at  your  highest  welfare  as  a  Community.  I  have  never 
sought  to  enrich  or  aggrandize  myself  at  your  expense.  Thus 
far  I  have  a  conscience  void  of  offence.  But  it  was  impossible 
that  I  should  not  sometimes  betray  the  weaknesses  and  infirmities 
of  a  man  possessing  like  passions  with  yourselves.  I  have 
done  so  many  times.  Yet  you  have  borne  with  me;  you  have 
trusted  me;  you  have  respected  and  honored  me.  You  have  ral- 
lied at  the  sound  of  my  voice  and  deferred  to  my  counsels  in 


230  THE   HOPEDALE   COMMUNITY. 

every  trying  emergency.  You  have  sustained  my  humble  efforts 
with  a  fraternal  constancy  which  I  shall  remember  with  affec- 
tionate gratitude  forever.  I  thank  you,  I  thank  the  Highest, 
for  it.  Whereinsoever  I  have  wronged  you,  or  neglected  you, 
or  aggrieved  you  in  anything,  let  me  feel  that  you  have  for- 
given me,  as  God,  I  trust,  has  forgiven  me  my  greatest  sins, 
and  as  I  desire  to  forgive  all  that  have  or  ever  shall  have 
trespassed  against  me.  If  I  have  been  instrumental  of  any 
good  to  you  or  to  our  common  cause  I  demand  no  thanks  for 
it.  It  has  all  come  from  Him  of  whom  I  received  the  ability 
to  be  useful.  I  have  done  only  that  which  it  was  my  duty 
to  do  and  that  but  imperfectly.  What  have  at  the  moment 
seemed  hardships  or  sacrifices,  all  dwindle  into  nothingness 
when  compared  with  those  internal  satisfactions  which  I  feel 
in  surveying  the  results  of  our  common  efforts,  and  in  antici- 
pating the  thousand  times  greater  ones  yet  to  follow.  To  see 
what  I  daily  behold  in  this  orderly,  tranquil,  thriving,  hopeful 
Dale  —  abounding  in  privileges  and  comforts  and  quiet  dwell- 
ing-places—  and  to  hear  the  whisperings  of  angels  assuring 
me  that  this  is  but  a  single  cluster  of  unripe  grapes  compared 
with  the  luxuriant  vintage  of  numerous  vineyards  yet  to  be 
planted  —  surely  this  is  a  reward  not  to  be  estimated  in  dollars 
and  cents.  And  my  joy  is,  not  that  these  lands  and  houses 
and  good  things  are  mine,  to  be  bequeathed  to  my  personal 
heirs,  but  that,  without  enriching  myself,  I  have  labored  with 
you  to  render  them  blessings  to  many  who  else  had  been 
crushed  under  the  huge  car  of  that  Juggernaut  of  selfishness 
which  is  continually  rolling  over  the  perishing  classes  of  society. 
My  portion  is  not  with  the  world's  successful  adventurers  who 
glory  in  fortunate  battles,  or  in  political  triumphs,  or  in  huge 
estates  piled  up  at  the  cost  of  ten  thousand  ruined  competitors, 
to  be  a  curse  to  lazy  and  quarrelsome  children.  I  fall  back  on 
those  interior  moral  possessions  which  the  world  can  neither 
give  or  take  away;  the  untarnishable  and  indestructible  treasures 
which  I  can  carry  with  me  through  all  the  mutations  of  time 
and  eternity.  Give  me  these,  O  my  God,  and  I  can  well  afford 
to  be  laughed  at  for  my  simplicity  by  all  the  worshipers  of 
Mars,  Mercury  and  Mammon.  Let  me  feel  that  I  share,  as  a 
rightful  partaker,  in  the  inheritance  of  them  that  serve  God 
by  doing  good  to  humanity,  and  it  shall  be  enough.  I  shall 
lack  nothing  essential  to  true  happiness.  Be  it  then  our  com- 


VALEDICTORY   ADDRESS.  231 

mon  consciousness,  beloved  associates,  whatever  our  incidental 
failures  and  shortcomings  may  have  been,  that  in  laboring 
together  to  build  up  this  Community,  we  have  not  lived  merely 
for  self  but  withal  to  better  the  condition  of  the  human  race. 

"  '  It  remains  only  that  I  offer  a  few  words  of  valedictory 
counsel  and  fraternal  admonition. 

"'1.  Be  true  to  your  acknowledged  Religion.  That  is  the 
beginning,  middle  and  end  of  your  welfare.  Succeed  in  this, 
and  all  will  be  well.  Fail  in  this,  and  you  perish.  Remember 
that  this  religion  is  the  one  taught  and  exemplified  by  Jesus 
Christ.  It  came  from  the  bosom  of  the  Infinite  Father  and 
there  is  nothing  that  can  be  substituted  for  it.  Remember 
that  it  is  an  absolute  religion,  not  a  temporary  contrivance 
inductive  to  a  higher;  that  it  is  a  religion  of  fundamental, 
immutable  principles,  not  one  of  external  ceremonies,  nor  of 
subtle,  scholastic  dogmas,  nor  of  technical  formulas,  nor  of 
philosophical  niceties,  nor  of  poetical  sentimentalities,  nor  of  car- 
nal flexibility,  nor  of  disfigured  countenances,  nor  of  solemn, 
cant  phrases,  nor  one  of  exclusively  holy  places,  times  and 
seasons.  It  is  a  religion,  not  of  the  letter  but  of  the  spirit  — 
not  a  religion  for  the  soul  only,  nor  for  the  body  only,  nor 
for  the  next  world  only,  nor  for  this  world  only,  nor  for  indi- 
viduals only,  nor  for  society  only,  nor  for  one  people  only, 
nor  for  one  age  only.  But  it  is  a  religion  for  both  soul  and 
body,  for  the  next  world  and  for  this  world,  for  individuals 
as  such  and  for  society  as  such,  for  all  peoples  throughout  all 
ages,  for  all  the  interests  of  mankind  of  whatsoever  nature, 
world  without  end.  It  is  a  religion  of  faith  and  also  of  works, 
of  the  feelings  and  also  of  the  reason,  of  piety  and  also  of 
philanthropy,  of  truth  and  also  of  kindness,  of  justice  and  also 
of  charity.  It  is  a  religion  of  divine  truth,  applicable  by  an 
enlightened  conscience  and  understanding  to  all  times,  places, 
pursuits,  occasions,  and  cases  wherein  man  acts  or  suffers. 
Interpret  this  religion  justly,  truthfully,  practically.  Distin- 
guish carefully  between  essentials  and  non-essentials,  between 
fundamentals  and  incidentals,  between  what  is  possibly  allow- 
able to  individuals  on  their  own  responsibility  and  what  is 
absolutely  prohibited  to  any  and  every  human  being.  For  the 
essentials  of  this  religion  be  ready  to  sacrifice  all  earthly  good, 
even  life  itself;  in  non-essentials  be  tolerant  and  accommodating 
to  the  last  degree.  Be  a  truly  religious  people  in  the  highest 


232          THE  HOPED  ALE  COMMUNITY. 

and  best  sense ;  not  superstitiously,  f ormalistically,  pharisaically, 
cantishly,  heartlessly,  laxly;  but  rather  spiritually,  cheerfully, 
artlessly,  earnestly,  piously,  and  humanely  religious.  This  is 
your  all-important  concern.  Make  sure  of  this  and  all  things 
else  shall  be  added  unto  you. 

"'2.  Make  progress.  Be  characteristically  an  advancing 
people.  Do  not  crystalize,  do  not  petrify.  Great  principles 
you  will  have  no  occasion  to  change.  Those  you  have  acknowl- 
edged are  eternal  and  perfect  as  the  divine  attributes.  Your 
grand  object,  the  regeneration,  holiness  and  happiness  of  all 
mankind,  you  can  never  change  for  a  nobler.  But  applications 
of  principles,  particular  arrangements,  ways,  means,  forms, 
methods  and  minor  details,  may  be  susceptible  of  improvement 
ad  infinitum.  I  would  not  have  you  unstable,  fickle-minded 
and  ready  to  be  carried  about  by  every  wind  of  novelty.  There 
is  no  need  of  this  in  order  to  progress.  Your  land-marks  may 
be  permanent  as  respects  everything  essential  in  religion,  grand 
objects,  and  moral  order.  Only  welcome  new  light;  keep  your 
minds  open  to  conviction;  cultivate  knowledge;  hail  advance- 
ment; 'prove  all  things,  and  hold  fast  that  which  is  good.' 
Never  sacrifice  the  substance  to  the  shadow  of  anything. 

"  '  3.  Hold  the  Community  in  sacred  regard.  Be  reverently 
and  devotedly  attached  to  it.  Consider  every  merely  individual 
and  ordinary  interest  as  subordinate  to  the  honor,  the  welfare 
and  the  prosperity  of  the  Community.  Never  place  anything 
but  God,  divine  principle  and  conscience  above  it.  Why  do  I 
say  this?  Because  your  Community  is  founded  on  divine 
principles,  aims  at  divine  objects,  and  solemnly  forbids  injury 
to  any  human  being,  even  your  worst  enemy.  You  cannot 
uphold  such  an  institution,  nor  promote  its  welfare,  nor  sub- 
serve its  honor,  by  doing  anything  which  insults  God  or 
injures  man.  Therefore  have  I  enjoined  you  to  reverence  it 
so  supremely.  I  have  so  felt  and  acted  from  the  beginning. 
I  have  regarded  him  who  respected,  befriended,  and  upheld 
the  Community,  as  respecting,  befriending,  and  upholding  me; 
him  who  despised  it  as  despising  me;  him  who  forsook  it  as 
forsaking  me;  him  who  slandered  it  as  slandering  me;  and 
him  who  injured  it  as  injuring  me.  Bound  by  its  blessed 
principles  to  love  my  own  enemies  and  to  forgive  my  own 
offenders,  I  have  endeavored  to  do  the  same  by  those  of  the 
Community.  Thus  have  I  indemnified  myself  with  it  at  all 


VALEDICTORY   ADDRESS.  233 

times  and  held  its  welfare  and  honor  as  sacred  as  my  own. 
I  exhort  you  to  do  the  same  and  never  to  leave  its  existence 
or  any  of  its  great  interests  in  the  hands  of  those  who  can 
justly  be  suspected  of  a  readiness  to  betray  or  desert  it  in  the 
hour  of  temptation.  Be  true  to  your  Community  until  itself 
has  ceased  to  be  true  to  its  fundamental  ideas.  Then  you 
may  and  ought  to  abandon  it.  If  at  any  time  you  feel  that 
those  who  manage  its  affairs  are  unjust,  or  unwise,  or  unfaith- 
ful, seek  friendly  explanations,  apply  frank  and  fraternal  cor- 
rectives, and  do  all  you  can  in  honesty  and  kindness  to  restore 
matters  to  a  healthy  tone.  But  do  not  fly  off  in  a  tangent 
from  a  noble  institution,  nor  punish  the  innocent  for  the  offences 
of  the  guilty,  nor  stealthily  plot  faction,  nor  work  by  intrigue 
to  break  down  influences  which  you  dislike,  nor  be  alienated 
from  your  allegiance  by  accidental  interferences  of  Community 
enactments  with  your  individual  peculiarities.  Consider  always 
whether  what  you  happen  to  be  crossed  in  is  really  anything 
worth  contending  for  against  the  general  welfare.  Be  humble, 
self-denying,  generous,  public  spirited.  Be  true,  practical  Chris- 
tian Communitists,  and  you  shall  find  yourselves  unselfishly 
happy  together. 

"  *  4.  Maintain  and  cultivate  order  in  all  things.  This  is  the 
dictate  of  wisdom.  All  the  love,  good-will  and  kind  intentions 
you  can  cherish  will  be  insufficient,  without  method,  system, 
regularity,  order.  Remember  that  Love  must  be  married  to 
Wisdom  for  the  bringing  forth  of  blessed  offspring.  Order  is 
the  eldest  born  of  these  parents.  Therefore  let  there  be  order 
in  your  public  assemblies,  in  your  discussions,  your  delibera- 
tions, your  legislation,  your  official  proceedings,  your  public 
documents,  your  records,  your  accounts,  and  in  all  your  organic 
transactions.  Let  there  be  order  in  your  streets,  your  public 
grounds,  your  cemetery,  your  industrial  operations,  your  work- 
shops, fields  and  gardens.  Let  there  be  order  in  your  families, 
your  private  affairs,  and  in  your  individual  souls.  Xot  an 
overstrained,  unnatural,  oppressive  order;  but  a  rational,  benefi- 
cent, pleasant  order,  which  shall  commend  itself  to  God,  con- 
science and  reason.  Thus  will  you  be  happy  in  yourselves, 
happy  in  all  your  associate  relations,  and  happy  in  commending 
your  Community  as  a  model  one  to  the  thousands  that  shall 
yet  come  from  the  east,  west,  north,  and  south,  to  learn  its 
-excellences.  See  that  you  do  nothing  in  a  loose,  confused, 


234  THE  HOPEDALE   COMMUNITY. 

disorderly     manner,    lest    you    bring    reproach    either    on    the 
Community  or  yourselves. 

"  *  5.  Finally,  '  Endeavor  to  keep  the  unity  of  the  spirit  in  the 
bonds  of  peace.'  Be  of  one  mind;  be  conciliatory;  be  forbear- 
ing; be  frank  and  forgiving;  have  compassion  one  of  another; 
love  as  brethren;  be  pitiful;  be  courteous.  And  'whatsoever 
things  are  true,  whatsoever  things  ara  honest,  whatsoever  things 
are  just,  whatsover  things  are  pure,  whatsoever  things  are 
lovely,  whatsoever  things  are  of  good  report;  if  there  be  any 
virtue,  if  there  be  any  praise,  think  on  these  things.'  The 
things  that  ye  have  both  learned,  and  received,  and  heard,  and 
seen  in  rne  (always  excepting  what  has  been  amiss),  do;  and 
the  God  of  peace  shall  be  with  you  and  your  children  for- 
evermore.'  " 

At  the  conclusion  of  the  above  address  a  committee 
consisting  of  Bros.  Wm.  H.  Fish  and  Edmund  Soward 
was  chosen  to  make  an  appropriate  response  to  it,  which 
was  done  at  an  adjourned  meeting  in  form  following,  to 
wit : 

"Dear  Brother  Ballou:  —  Though  your  resignation  of  the 
Presidency  of  The  Hopedale  Community  tendered  at  our  late 
Annual  Meeting  was  not  unexpected  by  any  of  our  Fraternity, 
it  was  nevertheless  received  with  much  general  reluctance  and 
a  most  sincere  wish  that  you  might  change  your  purpose,  and 
still  continue  in  the  position  which  you  have  so  long  filled 
with  great  ability,  fidelity  and  usefulness.  But  we  know  that 
the  duties  of  the  office  have  been  many  and  arduous,  absorbing 
so  much  of  your  time,  your  thought  and  your  energies,  that 
there  was  left  to  you  little  leisure  for  study  and  other  pursuits 
in  which  you  have  a  deep  interest;  and  we  did  not  feel,  there- 
fore, that  we  could  justly  insist  upon  your  longer  serving  us 
in  a  capacity  demanding  so  much  labor.  Whilst,  then,  we  have 
submitted  to  your  desire  and  decision,  we  have  deemed  it  a 
duty  and  a  pleasure  to  express  the  deep  sense  of  obligation 
and  gratitude  which  we  feel  towards  you  for  your  important 
services  in  our  common  cause.  This  we  most  cordially  now 
do,  as  a  Committee  of  the  Community,  and  in  accordance  with 
the  vote  unanimously  passed  immediately  after  the  hearing  of 
your  able,  interesting  and  excellent  farewell  address.  Of  that 
address,  though  we  were  chosen  partly  for  the  purpose  of 


RESPONSE   TO   VALEDICTORY   ADDRESS.  235 

responding  to  it,  we  deem  it  unnecessary  to  say  anything  at 
length,  as  it  will  go  forth  into  the  world  to  speak  for  itself. 
You  know  that  it  was  appreciated  and  heartily  responded  to 
by  all  who  heard  it,  and  that  they  were  prompted  by  its 
impressiveness  and  intrinsic  worth  to  call  for  the  publication 
of  it.  Such  a  response  must  be  of  far  greater  value  than  any 
formal  eulogy  our  feeble  words  could  pronounce;  and  those  not 
of  us  will  judge  it  by  its  own  character,  and  therefore  pass 
upon  it  a  sentence  of  approbation. 

"  We  only  add,  that  though  you  are  succeeded  in  the  Presi- 
dency by  one  competent  and  worthy  to  occupy  the  position,. 
being  a  pioneer  and  a  constantly  devoted  and  generous  laborer 
in  the  cause  of  Christian  Socialism,  we  shall  still  regard  your 
as  you  will  naturally  be  regarded  by  the  world,  as  really  the 
leader  in  our  enterprise,  to  whom  we  shall  constantly  look 
with  fraternal  sympathy,  confidence  and  hope,  certain  of  all 
the  aid  you  can  render  us  whenever  needed  and  called  for* 
We  therefore  take  an  affectionate  leave  of  you  as  our  nominal 
head,  wishing  you  continued  health  and  prosperity  both  tem- 
poral and  spiritual,  and,  what  will  be  still  better  for  your 
success  in  all  your  philanthropic  and  Christian  labors;  and 
after  this  earthly  life  a  still  higher  and  broader  mission  of 
love  and  usefulness,  in  association,  under  the  Infinite  Father, 
with  the  good  and  faithful  who  have  gone  before  us,  and  whose 
rest  is  unwearied  activity. 

"WM.  H.  FISH, 
EDMUND  SOWARD, 

Committee." 

This  response  was  unanimously  adopted  by  the  Com- 
munity as  expressive  of  the  most  earnest  and  sincere 
sentiments  of  its  members  towards  the  retiring  President. 

LAMENTABLE  BEREAVEMENTS. 

Following  closely  upon  these  heartfelt,  tender,  impres- 
sive, jubilant  exercises,  were  there  occurrences  of  a  far 
different  nature  —  scenes  of  trial,  bereavement,  calamity, 
and  distress,  which  cast  a  deep  shadow  over  our  happy 
vale  and  pierced  many  of  our  bosoms  with  a  sorrow  that 
left  a  scar  never  wholly  obliterated.  The  first  of  these 
occurrences  was  the  decease,  at  Worcester,  on  the  21st  of 


236  THE   HOPEDALE   COMMUNITY. 

January,  of  our  excellent  and  much  esteemed  Sr.,  Susan 
Fish,  in  the  63d  year  of  her  age.  She  was  for  some 
years  a  resident  member  of  the  Community,  of  most 
exemplary  character  and  life,  endearing  herself  to  all  who 
knew  her  by  her  gentle  and  loving  spirit,  her  devotion  to 
high  things,  her  self-forgetting  usefulness,  her  calm  and 
hopeful  trust  in  her  heavenly  Father  even  to  the  last 
hour  of  her  mortal  pilgrimage.  She  was  ever  loyal  to 
Hopedale,  bequeathing  a  goodly  portion  of  her  worldly 
possessions  to  the  promotion  of  some  of  its  most  cher- 
ished interests,  and  requesting  with  her  almost  dying 
breath  that  her  body  might  have  a  final  resting  place  in 
its  peaceful  cemetery.  A  tender  tribute  to  her  name  and 
memory  was  written  by  our  chief  poet,  Abby  H.  Price, 
a  few  stanzas  of  which  are  subjoined : 

"Weep  not  for  the  sleeper  —  a  gentle  repose 

Spread  over  her  form  as  she  yielded  her  breath; 

As  calm  as  a  summer  day  comes  to  its  close 
She  laid  her  tired  head  on  the  pillow  of  death. 

"Her  life  like  the  sunbeam  was  radiant  with  love; 

In  the  pathway  of  peace,  her  true  feet  ever  trod ; 
The  joys  that  she  sought  were  all  born  from  above, 

And  the  pleasure  she  asked  was  the  smile  of  her  God. 

"The  cause  we  here  cherish  was  dear  to  her  heart; 

Her  prayer  oft  ascended  that  we  might  be  blest; 
Though  absent  at  last  and  dwelling  apart. 

She  longed  in  the  peace  of  our  valley  to  rest. 

*        #        *        *        *        *        * 

"  As  we  pass  one  by  one  through  the  fathomless  wave, 
Perhaps  she  will  meet  us  with  welcoming  hand; 

With  angels  will  come  to  the  verge  of  the  grave, 
And  lead  us  away  to  the  bright  Spirit-land." 

The  same  number  of  The  Practical  Christian  that  con- 
tained the  obituary  of  our  departed  friend  just  named, 
conveyed  to  its  readers  the  startling  announcement  of  a 
fresh  and  overwhelming  affliction  which  had  come  to  us 


DEATH   OF   ADIN   AUGUSTUS   BALLOU.  237 

all  in  the  sudden  death  of  our  own  dear  son.  It  was 
from  the  pen  of  Bro.  Wm.  H.  Fish,  whose  communication 
is  given  entire  : 

"  ADIN  AUGUSTUS  BALLOU  is  DEAD. 

"Our  esteemed  friend,  Samuel  May,  Jr.  writes  to  us  under 
date  of  the  10th  inst.  (Feb.),  'Is  it  possibly  true  as  we  see 
announced  in  to-day's  Commonwealth  that  Augustus  Ballou  is-1 
dead?'  and  the  answer  to  his  question  we  have  put  at  the 
head  of  this  article.  He  died  at  Bridgewater,  where  he  was 
connected  with  the  Normal  School  as  a  teacher,  on  Sunday 
last,  February  8th.  He  was  attacked  very  violently  with  typhoid 
fever,  of  which  disease  he  was  sick  only  a  little  over  a  week. 
His  father  and  mother  were  summoned  to  his  bedside  in  time 
to  be  recognized  by  him,  to  exchange  affectionate  greetings 
and  minister  to  his  expiring  wants.  He  lived  two  days  after 
they  reached  him,  when  they  returned  home  with  his  remains; 
which  was  the  first  intimation  any  of  us  had  received  of  his 
departure.  Our  friend  May  exclaims,  '  What  a  terrible  blow 
it  must  be  to  his  father  and  mother!  The  shock  must  have 
fallen  upon  them  like  a  thunder-bolt  from  a  clear  sky!'  And 
indeed  it  is  so.  We  are  prompted  to  say,  'No  grief  can  be 
equal  to  their  grief ! '  They  are  bowed  in  sorrow  as  never 
before. 

"Augustus  —  by  this  name  we  always  called  him  —  was  a 
young  man  of  uncommon  ability  and  excellence,  and  of  great 
promise;  and  he  has  gone  down  to  his  grave  just  as  he  was 
passing,  early  developed,  into  the  man,  and  entering  upon  public 
life  for  himself.  He  had  pure  and  high  aspirations  within 
him  and  noble  objects  before  him,  for  the  realization  of  which 
he  had  already  marked  out  some  of  his  life  plans.  He  was  only 
in  his  nineteenth  year  and  yet  as  mature  as  many  at  twenty- 
five.  But  as  he  was,  he  has  gone  from  us  —  not  dead  but  still 
living  unto  God,  no  doubt,  and  to  great  ends.  He  leaves  a 
revered  father,  a  most  devoted  mother,  and  an  ardently  affec- 
tionate sister,  to  mourn  in  sadness  his  early  departure  and  the 
burial  of  many  hopes  garnered  up  in  him,  and  without  the 
Christian  faith  and  trust  they  would  be  inconsolable.  But  their 
sorrow  is  not  unto  despair  —  deep,  overwhelming  as  it  is.  They 
have  consolations  not  few  nor  small,  and  can  rejoice  even  in 
their  tribulation  —  at  least  can  be  calmly,  patiently,  humbly  sub- 


238  THE   HOPEDALE   COMMUNITY. 

missive.  All  the  members  of  our  Community  are  afflicted  with 
them,  as  is  also  a  wide  circle  of  acquaintances  here  and  else- 
where. 

"The  funeral  was  attended  by  as  large  an  assembly  of  rela- 
tives and  friends  as  could  possibly  be  accommodated  in  our 
Chapel,  and  it  surely  was  an  impressive  and  affecting  occasion. 
The  writer  of  this  delivered  a  discourse  appropriate  to  the 
event,  and  was  followed  with  interesting  remarks  of  sympathy 
and  consolation  by  Revs.  Henry  A.  Eaton,  Samuel  H.  Lloyd, 
and  Geo.  W.  Stacy  of  Milford,  and  Bro.  Wm.  W.  Cook  of  our 
Community;  Bro.  Ballou  simply  saying  from  a  full  heart  and 
in  a  most  impressive  and  touching  manner  as  he  took  leave 
of  the  corpse,  *  We  bless  the  Lord  God  that  He  gave  us  such  a 
son  as  this;  we  bless  Him  now  that  He  has  taken  him  away; 
and  we  bless  Him  that  he  liveth  evermore.'  " 

The  discourse  of  Brother  Fish,  with  accompanying  trib- 
utes, hymns,  etc.,  was  published  in  the  next  number  of 
the  Christian  and  did  it  seem  proper  in  this  work  I 
should  follow  my  own  strong  personal  inclination  to  insert 
here  a  full  account  of  our  dear  sou's  last  sickness,  death, 
funeral  testimonials,  and  obituary  eulogies.  I,  however, 
forbear,  but  warmly  commend  to  my  readers  the  little 
volume,  entitled  "  Memoir  of  Adin  Augustus  Ballou." 
I  prepared  and  published  that  work  during  the  year  1853, 
:and  I  have  never  seen  the  person  who  read  it  that  did 
not  profess  to  have  done  so  with  much  satisfaction  and 
profit.  I  pass  to  other  scenes  of  the  sad  year  now  in 
review  with  one  of  the  poetical  tributes  of  the  funeral 
occasion  from  the  pen  of  Abby  H.  Price  : 

"As  fair  as  the  beams  of  the  morning  wert  thou, 

As  sweet  as  the  fragrance  of  May: 
Love  shone  like  a  gem  on  thy  frank,  open,  brow, 
And  thy  smile  was  as  bright  as  the  day. 

"Oh  yes,  we  loved  thee,  a  treasure  so  dear, 

We  were  glad  as  we  thought  thee  our  own; 
But  selfish  a  love  that  would  fetter  thee  here; 
Let  us  smile  that  the  prisoner  hath  flown. 


HOPEDALE   EDUCATIONAL   HOME.  239 

"Not  far  will  he  leave  us,  his  bright  soul  will  bend 

To  breathe  the  soft  whisper  of  love; 
As  a  guardian  power  he  will  gently  attend 
To  woo  each  grieved  spirit  above. 

"  Adieu,  then,  our  fairest  ones,  pass  ye  away, 
Lest  we  love  this  poor  earth-home  to  well; 
Bereft  of  our  jewels  as  longer  we  stay, 
It  shall  fit  us  with  them  yet  to  dwell." 

The  tragic  event  thus  depicted  not  only  had  a  most 
depressing  effect  upon  my  health  and  spirits,  rendering 
me  for  months  almost  wholly  incapable  of  active  service 
in  any  department  of  usefulness,  but  it  crushed  many  of 
my  most  sacred  and  ardent  hopes  to  the  earth,  and 
brought  some  of  my  most  carefully  devised  and  strongly 
cherished  plans  to  speedy  destruction.  This  was  espec- 
ially true  of  4  4  The  Hopedale  Educational  Home  "  spoken 
of  a  few  pages  back,  an  enterprise  "  upon  which  I  had 
lavished  an  incalculable  amount  of  thought  and  labor,  and 
in  which  centered  so  many  glowing  anticipations  on  niy 
part  and  on  the  part  of  our  ascended  sou."  The  proposi- 
tion to  found  such  an  institution  had  met  a  hearty  recep- 
tion from  the  friends  of  progress  and  reform  at  home  and 
abroad  —  had  indeed  been  hailed  with  delight  by  many  of 
these  —  and  they  could  not  well  bear  the  thought  of 
having  so  noble  a  project  given  up  altogether.  —  come  to 
naught  in  its  very  budding.  They  appreciated  the  situa- 
tion in  which  I  was  placed  by  my  bereavement  in  respect 
to  it,  and  sympathized  deeply  with  me,  but  had  faith  to 
believe  and  feel  that  with  the  aid  that  would  be  gladly 
furnished  by  those  interested  in  the  undertaking  and  the 
blessing  of  Heaven,  the  way  would  open  to  a  grand 
success,  if  I  and  my  immediate  co-adjutors  would  press 
forward  in  the  work  that  had  been  so  auspiciously  inau- 
gurated and  received  so  cordial  a  welcome  from  those 
seeking  a  higher  education  and  a  nobler  life  for  them- 
selves and  for  humanity.  The  feeling  of  such  was  fitly 


240  THE   HOPEDALE   COMMUNITY. 

voiced  in  a  resolution  passed  at  the  Quarterly  Conference 
of  the  general  Practical  Christian  Communion  held  at 
Hopedale  on  the  20th  and  21st  of  March,  and  appended 
hereto. 

"Resolved,  That  in  this  present  day  of  darkness  to  'The 
Hopedale  Educational  Home,'  and  particularly  to  the  General 
Agent  thereof,  our  beloved  and  revered  Brother  Ballou,  we  will 
pronounce  upon  it  our  holiest  benedictions  and  express  our 
most  earnest  desire  that  it  may  be  carried  forward  with  all 
the  wisdom  and  efficiency  that  its  immediate  co-operators, 
under  the  direction  of  the  Divine  Wisdom,  can  bring  to  its 
aid;  that  so  far  as  in  us  lies  we  will  stay  their  hands  and 
cheer  their  hearts,  hoping,  praying  and  believing  that  the 
Great  and  Good  Father  will  never  leave  or  forsake  them, 
but  will  raise  up  true  and  faithful  souls  to  fill  the  void  that 
has  been  made  in  their  expectations  and  plans,  and  by  His 
overruling  and  fatherly  Providence  bring  their  and  our  eyes 
to  see  what  we  have  so  long  desired  to  see,  and  our  ears  to 
hear  what  we  have  so  long  desired  to  hear;  to  the  permanent 
good  of  our  common  brotherhood,  to  the  honor  of  our  cause 
—  the  cause  of  Christ,  and  to  the  glory  of  His  ever-blessed 
name." 

And  yet,  notwithstanding  these  and  other  expressions 
of  sympathy  and  encouragement,  of  faith  and  confidence, 
with  the  accompanying  assurances  of  kindly  assistance, 
for  which  I  am  truly  grateful,  I  had  not  the  heart  to  go- 
on with  the  undertaking.  The  "staff  of  accomplishment," 
so  far  as  early  practical  results  were  concerned,  was  gone, 
and  I  knew  not  where  to  look  for  what,  was  most  needed 
to  insure  success.  I  therefore  yielded,  though  with  pro- 
found regret,  to  what  seemed  to  me  to  be  the  inevitable,, 
and  with  many  a  sigh  and  pang  saw  one  of  my  most 
sacredly  cherished  schemes  for  benefiting  my  kind  pass- 
forever  from  my  sight. 

Of  Community  affairs  in  general  much  more  might  be 
said  than  seems  to  be  required  in  a  work  like  that  now 
in  hand,  the  more  marked  and  notable  occurrences  only 


NEW   SCHOOL   OF   SOCIAL   PHILOSOPHERS.  241 

being  of  interest  to  historical  readers.  Some  tolerable 
idea  of  the  ordinary  course  of  operations  from  month  to 
month  and  from  year  to  year  must  have  been  gleaned 
from  what  has  been  presented  in  the  foregoing  pages,  and 
it  is  not  desirable  that  further  particulars  be  given.  Suffice 
it  to  say  that  great  activity  prevailed  in  every  department 
of  our  social  economy  during  the  period  of  which  we  are 
now  writing  —  industrial,  educational,  religious,  promulga- 
tory ;  that  there  was  a  constant  influx  of  new  comers  to 
our  domain,  with  frequent  accessions  to  our  membership, 
and  some  withdrawals  and  departures ;  that  our  capital 
steadily  increased  and  therewith  business  enterprise ;  and 
that  there  was,  moreover,  sufficient  friction  in  our  com- 
plex machinery  to  require  untiring  watchfulness  with  some 
disciplinary  treatment,  and  to  awaken  in  the  minds  of  the 
more  far-seeing  and  thoughtful  more  or  less  anxiety  for 
the  future,  although  in  a  constantly  diminishing  degree. 

About  this  time  there  sprang  up  in  and  around  the 
city  of  New  York  a  new  school  of  social  philosophers 
under  the  leadership  of  one  Stephen  P.  Andrews,  a  man 
of  considerable  ability  and  culture,  of  whom  the  present 
distinguished  President  of  Brown  University  is  a  nephew, 
whose  proposed  system  was  denominated  ' '  Equitable  Com- 
merce," based  upon  two  fundamental  doctrines,  "Indi- 
vidual Sovereignty"  and  "Cost  the  limit  of  price."  These 
doctrines  were  originated  by  one  Josiah  Warren  of  Indiana, 
who  started  a  Community  in  that  state  in  illustration  of 
them  and  also  one  at  a  place  near  Thompson's  Station, 
L.  I.,  some  40  miles  from  New  York  city,  which  was 
christened  Modern  Times.  The  primary  idea  of  the  move- 
ment, "  Individual  Soverignty,"  which  made  every  man 
and  women  not  only  his  own  prophet,  priest,  and  king, 
but  virtually  his  own  law-giver  and  law-maker  —  his  own 
God  in  fact  —  captivated  several  of  our  Hopedale  people 
and  interested  for  a  time  quite  a  number  of  others. 
Two  or  three  of  the  former  falling  into  disrepute  among 
16 


242  THE   HOPEDALE   COMMUNITY. 

us,  not  by  reason  of  their  opinions  but  on  moral  grounds, 
finally  left  us  and  went  to  join  this  new  Elysium  on  Long 
Island.  The  practical  attempts  to  actualize  that  idea, 
East  and  West,  were  of  brief  continuance,  the  funda- 
mental postulate  mentioned  proving  a  rope  of  sand  when 
brought  to  a  practical  test  and  made  subject  to  any 
considerable  weight  or  tension. 

A  movement  with  which  we  were  more  in  sympathy  was 
projected  in  the  autumn  of  1852,  at  Raritan  Bay,  N.  J., 
in  which  Rev.  Win.  H.  Charming,  already  spoken  of,  was 
much  interested,  as  a  devoted  apostle  of  social  reform, 
and  of  which  our  good  brother.  Clement  O.  Read,  for- 
merly of  Hopedale,  was  one  of  the  responsible  originators. 
It  claimed  to  be  simply  an  Industrial  and  Educational 
enterprise,  with  no  definite  moral  and  religious  standard 
or  test  of  membership,  though  it  courted  the  co-operation 
and  support  only  of  persons  of  high  character  and  of 
humanitary  aims  in  life.  A  public  meeting  in  its  aid  and 
for  the  furtherance  of  its  objects  was  held  at  Clinton 
Hall,  New  York  City,  Dec.  8,  at  which  Bro.  E.  D.  Draper 
and  myself  were  present  by  invitation  as  delegates  from 
our  Community,  the  North  American  Phalanx  also  being 
represented  on  the  occasion.  The  gathering  was  not  large 
but  made  up  of  choice  spirits,  desirous  of  helping  any 
and  every  effort  calculated  to  improve  the  condition  and 
uplift  the  life  of  their  fellowmeu.  The  general  plan  and 
purpose  of  "The  Raritau  Bay  Union,"  as  the  Association 
already  formed  to  carry  the  project  into  execution  was 
called,  were  stated  and  commented  upon  by  Mr.  Charming, 
and  several  others  spoke  words  of  sympathy  and  encour- 
agement, even  though  in  some  instances  the  proposed 
undertaking  was  not  regarded  as  sufficiently  radical  and 
comprehensive  to  insure  the  most  far-reaching  and  desir- 
able results.  This  was  my  own  feeling,  as  1  frankly 
stated,  but  I  had  nevertheless  only  the  best  of  wishes  for 
those  engaged  in  it,  who  had  already  purchased  lands, 


ANNUAL  MEETING,    1853.  243 

«tc.,  to  the  value  of  $27,000.00,  and  who  were  resolved  to 
press  forward  to  the  accomplishment  of  the  laudable  ends 
they  had  in  view.  I  am  happy  to  be  able  to  say  that 
their  labors  were  crowned  with  a  good  degree  of  success. 
They  were  never  very  large  in  numbers,  but  they  built 
up  a  Community  on  its  own  plane  of  rare  excellence, 
founded  a  school  of  superior  standing  in  the  educational 
world,  at  the  head  of  which  was  that  distinguished  scholar 
and  reformer,  Theodore  D.  Weld,  illustrated  a  high  type 
of  private  and  public  morality  and  showed  to  all  thought- 
ful observers  "what  might  be  done  if  men  were  wise" 
to  make  the  world  better  and  happier.  It  filled  a  place 
in  the  procession  of  human  advancement,  made  an  honor- 
able record,  and  passed  away. 

At  the  Annual  Meeting  held  Jan.  12,  1853,  and  by 
adjournment  at  several  succeeding  dates,  it  appeared  from 
the  report  of  the  Treasurer  that  the  total  amount  of 
Community  property  Dec.  31,  1852,  was  $58,264.18;  and 
the  entire  liabilities,  including  the  maximum  dividend  of 
four  per  cent,  on  the  Joint-Stock,  $58,553.07;  showing  a 
deficit  on  the  operations  of  the  proceeding  year  of  $288.89. 
This  sum  was  duly  cancelled  by  individual  contributions 
and  the  Community  started  out  on  its  career  for  1853 
free  of  all  incumbrances  from  the  past  and  hopeful  of 
success  for  the  future.  Its  newly  elected  official  servants 
were :  EBENKZKR  D.  DRAPER,  President;  WM.  H.  HUM- 
PHREY, ALMON  THWING,  WM.  S.  HEYWOOD,  ALONZO  A. 
COOK,  Directory;  MARY  A.  WALDEN,  Recorder;  LEMUEL 
MINYAN,  Treasurer;  DUDLEY  B.  CHAPMAN,  WM.  G.  COM- 
STOCK,  ANN  E.  FISH,  ANNA  T.  DRAPER,  HENRY  LILLIE, 
Council;  WM.  H.  FISH,  EDMUND  SOWARD,  CAROLINE  MAY, 
Board  of  Education;  ABNER  ADAMS,  Steward;  EDMUND 
SOWARD,  JOSEPH  B.  BANCROFT,  ABBY  H.  PRICE,  ALMIRA 
B.  HUMPHREY,  Relief  Committee. 

In  the  early  part  of  this  year  a  formal  and  definite 
proposition  came  to  me,  as  representative  of  our  Commu- 


244  THE   HOPEDALE   COMMUNITY. 

nity,  from  A.  C.  Church  of  Kingston,  Lucerne  Co.  Pa. 
contemplating  the  establishment  of  a  Community  similar 
to  our  own,  in  the  vicinity  of  his  home.  He  had  learned 
of  us  through  Horace  Greeley  of  the  N.  Y.  Tribune,  and 
was  desirous  of  securing  our  co-operation  in  the  projected 
enterprise.  A  tract  of  laud,  700  acres  in  extent,  of 
excellent  quality,  capable  of  producing  all  kinds  of  grain, 
having  upon  it  large  areas  of  timber,  with  three  saw-mills 
and  other  improvements,  admirably  adapted,  as  he  thought, 
to  Community  purposes,  could  be  had  for  a  reasonable- 
sum,  to  the  purchase  and  development  and  utilization  of 
which  in  the  way  indicated,  he  was  willing  to  contribute  one 
thousand  dollars.  But  we  were  not  large  enough  to  colo- 
nize, still  needing  all  the  capital,  talent,  skill,  and  moral 
vigor  we  could  command  for  our  own  enlargement  and 
consolidation,  and  were  obliged  to  decline  the  proffered 
opportunity.  We,  however,  commended  it  to  the  consider- 
ation of  our  friends  scattered  abroad  but  nothing  came 
of  it. 

This  year  like  the  proceeding  one  was  marked  by  the 
decease  of  two  of  our  most  estimable  associates.  The 
first  was  that  of  Sally  Borden,  who  passed  on  at  Charlton 
on  the  loth  of  April,  in  the  44th  year  of  her  age.  She 
was  one  of  the  original  members  of  the  Community  and' 
paid  the  first  hundred  dollars  into  its  Joint-Stock  Fund. 
A  noble-hearted,  generous-spirited,  outspoken  friend  of 
human  reform  and  progress,  she  was  also  characterized  by 
the  affections  and  virtues  that  shine  in  the  domestic  circle,, 
and  was  deservedly  dear  to  those  who  knew  her  best. 
Her  health  gave  way  some  ten  or  twelve  years  before, 
and  her  active  nervous  system  became  sadly  shattered  and' 
deranged,  producing  insanity  of  a  distressing  and  hopeless 
type  from  which  she  found  no  relief  till  death  severed 
the  chords  that  bound  her  to  earth  and  time,  and  set  her 
imprisoned  spirit  free. 


VICTIM   OF   RAILROAD   CATASTROPHE.  245 

Early  the  following  month  a  terrible  bereavement  befell 
us  in  the  calamitous  death  of  one  of  the  oldest,  best 
known,  most  distinguished,  and  most  beloved  of  our 
number,  Dr.  Butler  Wilmarth.  It  occurred  in  the  mem- 
orable railroad  catastrophe  at  Norwalk  Bridge,  Conn,  on 
the  6th  of  May,  when  many  valuable  lives  were  lost  and 
a  multitude  of  fond  and  loving  hearts  were  overwhelmed 
with  the  tide-beats  of  indescribable  distress  and  anguish. 
An  article  m  TJie  Practical  Christian  from  the  pen  of 
Bro.  Win.  H.  Fish,  after  announcing  in  appropriate  terms 
the  awful  tragedy,  due  largely  to  reprehensible  reckless- 
ness, speaks  of  our  friend's  death  as  follows  : 

"  One  of  our  own  and  earliest  Community  members,  greatly 
respected  and  beloved  by  us  all  and  by  hundreds  of  others, 
was  whelmed  in  that  wreck  of  ruin,  and  brought  to  us  a 
corpse  to  be  buried  in  our  peaceful  cemetery!  We  knew  he 
had  gone  to  New  York  to  attend  a  Water  Cure  convention 
of  physicans,  but  thought  it  more  than  probable  that  at  the 
close  he  had  visited  the  new  Community  at  Raritan  Bay  as 
he  proposed,  and  would  return  to  his  home  on  Saturday  even- 
ing. But,  alas!  to  what  disappointment  and  anguish  of  spirit 
were  his  family  and  friends  destined!  On  the  Monday  follow- 
ing that  tragic  and  memorable  Friday,  his  lifeless  remains 
were  brought  to  Westboro'  (where  he  was  residing  for  a  season 
and  fitting  up  a  Water  Cure  establishment)  by  Dr.  Welling- 
ton of  New  York,  who  very  kindly  and  humanely  took  upon 
himself  the  service,  leaving  his  home  on  purpose  to  see  if  he 
could  find,  as  he  feared  he  might,  our  lamented  brother  among 
the  dead.  He  did  find  him!  And  we  must  leave  our  readers 
to  imagine  the  distress  of  his  family  and  friends  which  followed 
the  first  intelligence  received  of  him  after  his  departure. 

"On  Tuesday,  the  body  of  Bro.  Wilmarth  was  brought  to 
Hopedale  for  interment,  where  the  funeral  was  attended  by  a 
large  concourse  of  people,  many  coming  from  adjoining  towns 
to  give  expression  to  their  respect,  their  sympathy  and  their 
sorrow.  Brother  Ballou  gave  the  principal  address  which  though 
brief  was  appropriate  and  impressive  and  worthy  of  the  occa- 
sion. Remarks  were  also  made  by  the  writer  of  this,  by  a  Mr. 
Campbell,  a  clergyman  who  had  come  from  New  York  to  put 


246  THE   HOPED  ALE   COMMUNITY 

himself  under  the  medical  care  of  the  deceased,  and  who  was 
greatly  affected  by  the  event,  and  by  Brother  Stacy. 

u  Dr.  Wilmarth  was  fifty-five  years  of  age,  and  he  died  in. 
the  Christian  faith  which  he  had  honored  for  thirty  years  at 
least,  not  only  by  profession  but  by  practice.  *  Blessed  are 
the  dead  who  die  in  the  Lord.'  '  Blessed  are  they  that  mourn, 
for  they  shall  be  comforted.'  " 

A  memoir  of  this  excellent  mau  was  prepared  by  Brother 
Fish  arid  published  not  long  afterward,  and  the  interested 
reader  is  respectfully  referred  to  that  volume  for  further 
particulars  of  a  character  and  career  worthy  of  emulation. 

A  Free  Love  Episode.  As  we  at  Hopedale,  wherever 
we  were  known,  had  a  reputation  for  hospitality  to  new 
ideas  and  a  friendliness  towards  everything  calculated  to- 
benefit  our  fellowmen,  we  were  frequently  confronted  with 
theories  and  doctrines,  good,  bad,  and  indifferent,  claim- 
ing, through  their  apostles,  consideration  and  acceptance 
on  the  ground  that  they  were  helps  to  human  progress  or 
panaceas  for  the  maladies  of  mankind.  Some  of  these 
were  thoroughly  false  in  principle  and  mischievous  in 
tendency  and  effect.  It  was  impossible  to  prevent  the 
introduction  of  these  pernicious  theories  and  doctrines 
within  our  borders  and  the  discussion  of  them  among 
our  people.  It  was  no  part  of  our  policy  to  attempt  ta 
do  this ;  but  it  was  a  part  of  our  policy  to  prevent  them 
from  doing  any  of  us  harm ;  it  was  a  part  of  our  policy 
to  be  continually  watchful  concerning  them,  lest  they  get 
a  foothold  among  us,  captivating  the  unwary  and  causing 
injury  to  personal  character  and  the  social  well-being. 

Among  these  reprehensible  speculations  was  that,  which, 
under  a  plea  for  the  broadest  and  largest  liberty,  contem- 
plated the  removal  of  all  conventional  restraints  pertaining 
to  the  relation  of  the  sexes'  to  each  other,  and  especially 
in  the  matter  of  marriage,  and  granting  to  each  and 
every  one  the  privilege  of  forming  connubial  alliances  and 
dissolving  them  at  will,  as  inclination,  pleasure,  conven- 


CASE   OF   MARITAL   INFIDELITY.  247 

ience,  or  whatever  else,  might  dictate,  under  the  general 
name  of  Free  Love.  But  notwithstanding  our  vigilance, 
and  in  utter  contravention  of  our  solemn  declaration  con- 
cerning chastity  and  of  our  well-known  adherence  to  the 
principle  of  monogamic  marriage,  there  arose  in  our  midst 
during  the  year  1853,  a  case  of  marital  infidelity  and 
illicit  intercourse  that  caused  great  unpleasantness,  per- 
plexity, and  scandal,  and  that  required,  at  length,  Com- 
munity intervention. 

The  story  is  simply  this :  One  of  our  male  members, 
the  head  of  a  family,  became  enamoured  of  a  woman 
also  a  member  who  had  for  sometime  resided  in  his 
household,  and  proportionally  estranged  from  his  faithful 
and  worthy  wife.  Suspicions  of  something  wrong  arose 
among  outsiders,  causing  considerable  talk  of  a  scurrilous 
nature,  though  nothing  was  absolutely  known  or  could  be 
proved  to  that  effect.  At  length  the  unhappiness  of  the 
wife  was  revealed,  and  the  cause  of  it,  upon  investigation, 
made  public.  The  matter  then  very  properly  received 
attention  from  the  Council,  who  summoned  the  delinquents 
before  them  for  examination  and  discipline.  Upon  being 
questioned  and  confronted  with  proof  of  misconduct,  they 
acknowledged  culpability,  professed  regret,  and  penitence, 
and  promised  amendment.  But  these  professions  proved 
insincere,  or  at  least,  transient,  and  the  parties  were  again 
called  to  account.  They  then  did  not  deny  or  attempt 
to  conceal  their  criminality,  but  rather  justified  it  on  the 
ground  that  it  was  consonant  with  the  principles  of  the 
new  philosophy  touching  personal  liberty,  sexual  relations, 
and  the  conjugal  bond,  which  they  had  embraced  —  in  a 
word,  they  openly  and  unhesitatingly  avowed  themselves 
to  be  Free  Lovers,  from  conviction  and  in  practice  also. 
Having  taken  that  position  they  could  not  do  otherwise 
than  withdraw  from  Community  membership  and  leave  the 
locality  where  both  their  theory  and  their  action  were  held 
in  almost  universal  derision  and  abhorrence.  They  went 


:1 


248  THE   HOPEDALE   COMMUNITY. 

from  us  to  the  settlement  of  kindred  Individual  Sovereigns 
on  Long  Island  already  adverted  to — "-Modern  Times," 
where  they  undoubtedly  found  congenial  companionship, 
and  unbridled  liberty  to  carry  their  doctrines  out  to  the 
farthest  possible  limit,  with  no  one  to  question  or  reproach 
them,  or  say  them  nay.  For,  as  one  who  had  been  unwit- 
tingly induced  to  take  up  his  residence  among  that 
''peculiar  people"  for  a  time,  and  who  knew  them  well 
—  a  man  of  ability  and  character,  well  qualified  to  judge 
and  to  judge  wisely  —  said:  "There  is  a  lurking  combina- 
tion among  the  leaders  to  do  away  entirely  with  the  name 
and  essence  of  marriage  and  to  introduce  instead  an  open 
and  respectful  sanction  of  promiscuous  co-habitation.  They 
not  only  cut  the  bonds  of  legality  and  set  at  nought  the 
proprieties  of  custom,  but  they  also  scout  the  idea  of 
constancy  in  love,  and  ridicule  the  sensitiveness  of  one 
who  refuses  to  barter  counubialities.  Wife  with  them  is 
synonymous  with  slave  and  monogamy  is  denounced  as  a 
vicious  monopoly  of  affection." 

This  case  of  marital  infidelity  and  contempt  of  the 
marriage  covenant  occurring  in  our  very  midst  and  at  a 
time  when  the  most  lax,  corrupting,  and  dangerous  senti- 
ments concerning  the  general  subject  to  which  they  relate 
were  bruited  abroad  and  extolled  throughout  the  general 
community  under  the  specious  and  captivating  guise  of 
Liberty  and  Reform,  led  us  at  Hoped  ale  to  declare  our 
views  and  make  our  position  known  to  the  world  beyond 
all  doubt  or  peradventure.  This  we  effected  in  a  series 
of  resolutions  covering  the  whole  ground  involved  in  the 
divinely  appointed  distinction  of  sex,  so  far  as  it  applies 
to  the  human  race,  which  was  passed  in  Community  meet- 
ing held  July  10,  1853.  The  series  culminated  in  the 
last  one  which  records  most  unequivocally  and  emphati- 
cally our  conviction  concerning  the  pernicious  assumption 
adverted  to,  as  follows  : 


TESTIMONY   CONCERNING    "FREE   LOVE."  249 

"Resolved,  (10)  That,  with  our  views  of  Christian  Chastity, 
-we  contemplate  as  utterly  abhorrent  the  various  'Free  Love' 
theories  and  practices  insiduously  propagated  among  susceptible 
minds  under  pretext  of  higher  religious  perfection,  moral 
exaltation,  social  refinement,  individual  sovereignty,  physiologi- 
cal research  and  philosophical  progress;  and  we  feel  bound  to 
bear  our  uncompromising  testimony  against  all  persons,  commu- 
nities, books  and  publications  which  inculcate  such  specious 
and  subtle  licentiousness." 

The  occurrence  which  has  formed  the  subject  of  com- 
ment in  the  last  few  pages  and  which  in  justice  to  the 
truth  of  history  could  not  have  been  omitted  from  the 
present  volume  was  the  only  one  of  its  kind  that  ever 
transpired  during  our  entire  existence  —  the  only  one  in 
which  the  inculpated  parties  justified  themselves  and  took 
refuge  under  the  bewitching  sophistries  of  "Free  Love." 
In  the  other  few  cases  of  indiscretion,  similar  in  nature 
though  by  no  means  in  degree,  that  came  to  light, 
the  erring  ones,  when  called  to  account,  bowed  to  their 
acknowledged  standard  of  duty,  made  due  confession  of 
their  wrong,  and  in  Scripture  phrase  "brought  forth 
fruits  meet  for  repentance."  But  on  the  whole,  and  to 
the  credit  of  our  young  men  and  women  as  well  as  of 
those  of  riper  years,  it  is  to  be  put  on  record  and  kept 
in  lasting  remembrance  that  we  were  singularly  exempt  not 
only  from  positive  scandal  touching  matters  pertaining  to 
the  sexes,  but  also  from  covert  suspicion  and  innuendo. 
Great  freedom  there  was  between  male  and  female  in  the 
home,  in  the  social  circle,  and  in  all  public  places,  but 
few  instances  of  excess,  undue  liberty,  or  impropriety, 
calling  for  reproof  and  reprehension. 

The  Address  of  the  President  made  at  the  end  of  the 
year  1853,  which  I  have  before  me  in  the  original  manu- 
script, gave  a  comprehensive  but  succinct  review  of  Com- 
munity affairs  for  the  preceeding  twelvemonth.  It  bore 
&  good  moral  and  financial  tone,  affirming  that  progress 


250  THE   HOPEDALE   COMMUNITY. 

had  been  made  in  most  if  not  in  all  departments  of  public 
activity  and  service,  and  that  the  outlook  for  the  future 
was  auspicious  of  good  to  all  interests  and  concerns.  It 
would  seem  that  a  new  basis  of  valuation  of  Community 
property  was  established  at  this  time,  the  former  one 
having  been  adjudged  too  high  as  compared  with  that 
upon  which  the  estimates  of  similar  property  similarly  con- 
ditioned elsewhere  were  made.  This  statement  will  suggest 
the  reason  why  there  is  a  reduction  from  the  previous  year's 
figures  in  the  financial  report  of  the  year  under  notice, 
and  how  it  happens  that  there  is  an  appearance  of  finan- 
cial decline  when  it  is  claimed  that  there  has  been  con- 
tinued advance  in  this  no  less  than  in  other  particulars. 
It  is  simply  due  to  the  fact  that  inflated  values  —  values 
determined  by  regarding  simply  the  relation  of  property 
to  business  —  what  it  is  worth  to  use  —  gave  place  to 
market  values  —  what  it  would  bring  if  offered  for  sale. 
With  these  comments  and  explanations,  a  few  interest- 
ing and  suggestive  extracts  from  the  President's  Annual 
Report  are  introduced  : 

"Total  present  valuation  of  Community  property  $55,225.22;. 
present  liabilities  $54,236.45.  Leaving  towards  paying  dividends 
on  the  Joint-Stock,  $988.77.  The  operations  of  the  year  will 
pay  all  expenses  and  3  1-2  per  cent,  on  Stock,  being  only  1-2 
per  cent,  less  than  its  constitutional  claim.  The  10  per  cent, 
reserve  due  from  the  several  branches  of  business  will  amount 
to  about  enough  to  make  up  the  deficiency,  so  that  there  will 
be  little  or  no  deficit. 

"I  find  by  referring  to  the  Community  books  that  its  prop- 
erty has  increased  rapidly  since  Jan.,  1844,  a  period  of  ten  years. 
The  present  valuation  is  $55,225.00;  that  of  1844,  $8,658.00,  omit- 
ing  the  decimals.  Increase  in  ten  years,  $46,567.00.  Add  to  this 
sum,  the  value  of  tools,  machinery,  etc.,  in  the  several  branches 
of  business  not  now  appearing  in  the  Treaurer's  statement, 
which  is  $7,499.00  and  the  whole  gain  is  $51,066.00. 

"  The  property  invested  in  houses  owned  by  individuals  clear 
of  debt  Jan.  1,  1854,  is  $27,400.00;  the  same  Jan.  1,  1844,  was 
$3,200.00.  Gain  in  this  particular  in  ten  years,  $24,200.00. 


REPORTS   OF   ANNUAL   MEETING,    1854.  251 

The  gain  therefore  in  Community  property  and  in  private 
real  estate  is  $78,266.00.  And  the  amount  of  property  now  in 
Hopedale  according  to  these  estimates  is  $90,124.00.  [This,  of 
course,  did  not  include  the  personal  property  of  members, 
probationers,  and  others,  residing  on  the  domain.  Ed.] 

"The  following  is  an  estimate  of  the  increase  of  property 
in  Community  buildings  and  business  equipments,  during  the 
year  1853.  Houses  and  shops  erected,  $10.150.00:  implements 
and  fixtures  in  Machine  Branch,  $2,000.00;  in  Soap  and  Candle 
Branch,  $800.00;  in  Printing  and  Publishing  Branch,  $1000.00; 
in  Transportation  Branch,  $300.00;  in  Agricultural  Branch, 
$850.00 ;  in  Boot  and  Shoe  Branch,  $1,600.00 ;  in  Division  Store, 
$400.00;  making  a  total  of  $17,100.00." 

The  following  paragraphs  are  copied  from  the  Report 
of  the  Council  made  at  the  same  time : 

"Of  the  thirty-one  persons  examined  by  the  Council  for 
probationship  in  the  Community  during  the  past  year,  twenty- 
three  were  approved;  and  of  the  nine  persons  examined  for  mem- 
bership, seven  were  approved.  Of  the  twenty-three  approved 
by  us  as  probationers,  only  eleven  have  been  received  by  the 
Directory;  while  of  the  seven  approved  for  membership,  all 
have  been  received  by  the  Community. 

"  One  of  our  fellow-members  has  been  removed  by  death 
during  the  year,  three  have  withdrawn,  and  one  has  been  dis- 
charged. The  Community  now  numbers  seventy-six  resident 
and  six  non-resident  members,  twenty-two  probationers,  seventy- 
nine  family  dependents,  and  fifty-two  permitted  residents.  So 
that  the  present  population  of  Hopedale  is  two  hundred  and 
twenty-nine  persons.  Among  these  we  are  happy  in  expressing 
the  belief  that  a  good  degree  of  harmony  and  fraternal  feeling 
prevails.  We  do  not  think  that  the  Community  for  a  long 
time  has  exhibited  a  phase  in  which  so  much  unity,  kindliness 
and  good  feeling  has  existed  as  at  the  present  time. 

"  We  think  it  proper  to  remind  you  in  this  connection  that 
we  are  not  here  in  this  Community  as  mere  neighbors,  dwell- 
ing together  for  no  other  reason  than  because  it  is  mutually 
convenient.  But  we  are  here  as  a  great  family  of  brothers 
and  sisters,  bound  together  by  a  common  interest,  pursuing 
together  a  common  end.  And  no  one  of  us  can  suffer  essen- 
tially unless  all  suffer,  neither  can  one  of  us  do  a  wrong  with- 


252  THE   HOPEDALE   COMMUNITY. 

out  all  in  a  greater  or  less  degree  feeling  the  effect  of  that 
wrong.  And  under  these  circumstances  we  ought  always  to 
feel  free  to  advise,  counsel  and  admonish  one  another  as 
we  would  if  bound  together  by  the  ties  of  consanguinity. 
Indeed,  we  are  bound  together  by  a  far  holier  tie ;  even  that 
bond  of  spiritual  union  that  embraces  the  entire  Church  of 
the  redeemed  and  unites  them  in  the  service  of  Him  by  whose 
name  they  aspire  to  be  called. 

"  What  we  all  need,  is  to  be  quickened  in  Spirit,  and  as  an 
important  means  to  the  attainment  of  this  end,  we  would 
recommend  to  your  special  favor  our  Conference  Meetings  and 
the  Inductive  Communion  Meeting,  together  with  all  the  oppor- 
tunities of  moral  and  religious  improvement  provided  by  the 
Community;  and  that  beside  these  you  should  not  forget  to 
seek  for  divine  illumination  and  strength  by  earnest  prayers 
made  in  the  recesses  of  your  own  closets." 

Officers  for  the  year  1854  :  EBENEZER  D.  DRAPER,  Presi- 
dent; MARY  A.  WALDEN,  Recorder;  DUDLEY  B.  CHAPMAN, 
ANNA  T.  DRAPER,  ANN  E.  FISH,  WM.  H.  HUMPHREY, 
ELIJAH  S.  MULLIKEN,  Council;  WM.  S.  HEYWOOD,  ALMON 
THWING,  Jos.  B.  BANCROFT,  ALONZO  A.  COOK,  Directory; 
LEMUEL  MUNYAN,  Treasurer;  WM.  H.  FISH,  CAROLINE  M. 
MAY,  CATHARINE  G.  MUNYAN,  NOYES  S.  WENTWORTH, 
JEROME  WILMARTH,  Board  of  Education ;  ALMIRA  B.  HUM- 
PHREY, NANCY  M.  COOK,  HENRY  LILLIE,  DAVID  BEAL, 
Relief  Committee;  ABNER  ADAMS,  Steward;  WM.  S.  KEY- 
WOOD,  DUDLEY  B.  CHAPMAN,  WM.  W.  COOK,  SARAH  B. 
H.  RICH,  ANNA  T.  DRAPER,  Promulgation  Committee. 


CHAPTER    VIII. 

1854-1856. 

SIGNS  OF  PROMISE  —  PRACTICAL  CHRISTIAN  REPUBLIC  — 

NEW  COMMUNITIES  —  THE  FATAL  ISSUE  — 

THE  INEVITABLE  ACCEPTED. 

nPHE  Hopedale  Community  was  now,  at  the  opening  of 
-•-the  year  1854,  passing  through  the  palmiest  period  of 
its  history.  Nothing  for  a  long  time  had  transpired  to 
seriously  disturb  the  on- flowing  tide  of  its  prosperous 
career.  Perplexing  questions  were,  of  course,  continually 
arising,  to  tax  our  mental  energies  and  sometimes  our 
patience  and  our  faith,  as  there  were  also  differences  of 
opinion,  personal  grievances,  clashing  of  interests,  irrita- 
tions of  temper,  outbursts  of  feeling,  etc.,  showing  that 
we  had  not  yet  risen  above  the  infirmities  and  faults  of 
our  common  human  nature  and  were  in  no  proper  condi- 
tion to  boast,  as  individuals,  of  our  superior,  unexcep- 
tionable moral  and  spiritual  attainment.  But  these  we 
regarded  as  purely  incidental  matters  —  as  eddies  in  the 
current  —  grievous  enough  and  regretful,  to  be  sure,  yet 
not  of  serious  and  threatening  moment  —  not  deep-seated 
and  virulent  enough  to  worry  or  oppress  us,  or  awaken 
apprehensions  of  coming  disaster  and  woe.  We  felt,  too, 
that  they  were  sufficiently  under  the  ban  of  both  the 
private  and  public  conscience,  were  sufficiently  held  in 
check,  restricted,  and  watched  by  our  Council  and  the 
guardians  of  our  virtue  and  peace  generally,  and  suffi- 
ciently subordinated  to  our  distinctive  principles,  to  the 
prevailing  morality  of  the  place,  and  to  the  influence  of 


254  THE   HOPEDALE   COMMUNITY. 

our  religious  teachers,  to  be  not  only  comparatively  harm- 
less for  the  time,  but  to  be  gradually  disappearing  from 
our  borders.  So,  despite  our  minor  imperfections  and 
defects,  we  were  hopeful  as  never  before  and  more  expect- 
ant than  ever  before  of  good  and  happiness  to  our  kind 
through  the  movement  of  wrhich  we  deemed  ourselves  the 
especial  guardians,  prophets,  and  apostles,  called  of  God 
to  the  position  we  occupied  and  to  the  work  we  had 
undertaken  to  do.  Of  the  thriving,  perhaps  I  may  say, 
felicitous  condition  of  affairs  with  ~us  at  this  time,  no 
better  idea  can  be  given  than  by  copying  a  few  extracts 
from  contemporaneous  articles,  entitled  "Local  Intelli- 
gence," appearing  in  our  organ  over  the  signature  of 
W.  S.  H,  (William  S.  Hey  wood). 

"The  condition  and  prospects  of  the  Community  in  all  out- 
ward concerns  is  as  favorable  and  promising  as  has  been  the 
case  at  any  former  period  of  its  history.  There  have  been  no 
recent  withdrawals  from  our  membership.  Quite  a  number  of 
probationers  are  residing  on  our  domain,  some  of  whom  are 
nearly  or  wholly  ready  to  be  presented  for  admission  to  our 
fraternity,  and  will  no  doubt  ere  long  be  welcomed  there. 
Besides,  numerous  families  now  abroad  in  the  world  are  wait- 
ing with  expectant  hearts  for  an  opportunity  to  locate  in  our 
midst  and  unite  their  energies  and  resources  with  ours  in  the 
endeavor  to  realize  a  new  and  divine  social  order.  There  is 
no  lack  of  numbers,  here  and  elsewhere,  who  profess  to  be 
prepared  to  help  on  by  their  means,  efforts,  and  personal 
influence,  our  work.  There  is  nothing  to  fear  on  that  account. 
The  occasion  for  apprehension  has  been  and  is,  not  that  the 
Community  will  die  or  suffer  from  want  of  men  and  women 
to  unite  with  and  support  it,  but  rather  for  want  of  those  of 
the  right  kind  to  be  co-laborers  in  it.  And  special  care,  watch- 
fulness and  anxiety  are  now  arid  will  always  be  needed  in 
respect  to  that  matter." 

"  The  general  external  appearance  of  the  village  is  improv- 
ing from  year  to  year.  New  dwellings  are  going  up;  new 
streets  being  opened ;  new  sidewalks  laid ;  new  house-lots  taken 
up  and  cultivated;  fruit  and  ornamental  trees  appear  along 
the  public  ways,  in  private  gardens,  and  on  the  general  domain; 


CURRENT   EVENTS   IN   THE   SPRING   OF   1854.          255 

shrubbery  and  flowers  are  constantly  increasing  in  amount  and 
beauty  around  family  residences;  the  public  square  is  gradually 
assuming  a  more  pleasing  aspect,  preparatory  to  the  erection 
of  a  more  commodious  and  imposing  Chapel  than  we  now  have 
and  the  laying  out  of  lawns,  walks,  avenues,  terraces,  etc., — 
all  these  things,  contributing  to  the  loveliness  and  charm  of 
our  beloved  Dale,  are  receiving  a  due  share  of  attention. 
Cellars  are  already  dug  and  foundations  are  going  in  for  two 
new  cottages,  while  plans  are  in  preparation  for  two  others  to 
be  erected  this  season." 

"  Aside  from  these,  which  are  the  work  of  individuals,  the 
Community  is  about  building  a  large  barn,  eighty  feet  long 
by  forty  wide  with  twenty-two  feet  posts,  mainly  for  the  use 
of  the  department  of  Agriculture.  When  it  shall  be  ready  for 
occupancy,  the  old  barns  will  be  devoted  exclusively  to  the  needs 
of  the  Tran  sportation,  Livery,  Horticultural,  and  other  Branches 
that  can  profitably  use  them."  "  In  addition  to  this,  it  is  deter- 
mined to  enlarge  the  building  hitherto  assigned  to  school, 
chapel,  and  other  purposes  of  a  public  nature.  An  extension 
of  some  twenty  feet  is  proposed,  to  be  so  arranged  internally 
as  to  have  two  rooms  for  schools,  with  folding  doors  between 
that  can  be  thrown  open  when  occasion  requires,  making  a 
commodious  auditorium  for  larger  gatherings." 

"  The  various  Industrial  Departments  are  prosecuting  their 
several  distinctive  activities  with  a  good  degree  of  attention 
and  vigor.  In  many  of  them  the  demands  are  even  greater 
than  can  be  answered  without  overtasking  the  employes.  The 
Agricultural  Branch  is  in  a  remarkably  prosperous  and  hope- 
ful state.  The  Orcharding  Branch  has  had  a  good  run  of 
business  in  its  nursery,  which  is  stocked  with  a  large  number 
and  variety  of  fruit,  shade,  and  ornamental  trees,  shrubbery, 
etc.,  including  an  extensive  assortment  of  flowers  and  foliage 
plants.  Horticulture  has  some  eight  acres  in  garden  vegetables, 
and  will  soon  be  running  a  wagon  to  the  neighboring  town  of 
Milford,  where  a  ready  market  can  be  found  for  all  it  can 
produce.  The  Machine  Branch,  which  manufactures  hatchets, 
picks  and  similar  implements,  together  with  power-loom  tem- 
ples, boot  lasting  apparatus,  etc.,  though  not  so  well  supplied 
with  advance  orders  as  last  season  has  thus  far  kept  all  its 
operatives  employed.  The  Soap-making  business  is  brisk,  and 
Hopedale  is  getting  quite  a  reputation  for  this  kind  of  manu- 


256  THE   HOPEDALE   COMMUNITY. 

facture.  Boot  and  Shoe  making  is  dull,  but  fortunately  those- 
formerly  engaged  in  this  calling  are  able  to  find  and  execute 
other  kinds  of  employment.  The  Box,  Cabinet,  and  other 
Branches  belonging  to  the  Community,  are  flourishing,  and 
promise  a  fair  compensation  to  labor,  above  rents,  expenses, 
etc.,  besides  an  equitable  return  to  the  capital  invested  in 
them." 

"Notwithstanding  the  general  industry  of  the  Hopedalians, 
and  a  devotion  to  business  running  almost  to  excess,  there  is 
unusual  attention  given  to  Education,  General  Culture,  Corre- 
spondence, Moral  and  Religious  Training,  and  the  Nurture  of 
the  Spiritual  Life  among  us.  I  doubt  whether  any  neighbor- 
hood of  the  same  population  in  the  world  furnishes  so  many 
subscribers  to  newspapers,  magazines,  etc.,  as  ours.  Besides, 
the  P.  C.  exchanges,  to  the  number  of  forty  or  fifty  per  week, 
mostly  of  a  religious  or  reformatory  character,  are  distributed 
among  our  different  households.  Nearly  every  family  has  a 
liberal  supply  of  books  of  its  own,  supplemented  by  the  Public 
Library  containing  six  or  seven  hundred  volumes,  which  is 
opened  every  week  to  applicants,  and  well  patronized.  Our 
regular  School  Year  is  of  forty  weeks'  duration,  while,  during 
the  Fall  and  Winter  seasons,  classes  are  formed  by  those  not 
in  the  school  for  the  acquisition  of  useful  knowledge  or  for 
private  instruction  in  some  special  lines  of  study.  Our  Lyceum, 
which  is  required  by  the  enactment  establishing  it  to  meet 
every  Tuesday  evening  for  six  months  in  the  year  and  once  a 
month  for  the  remainder,  has,  for  awhile  past,  given  way  to  a 
Singing  School,  under  the  direction  of  one  of  our  probationers. 
For  moral  and  religious  edification  and  nurture  we  have  two 
regular  meetings  on  the  first  day  of  the  week,  at  each  of  which 
a  discourse  is  usually  delivered,  with  accompanying  exercises 
of  devotion  and  praise,  perfect  freedom  of  utterance  being 
maintained  for  all  present,  whether  agreeing  with  or  dissenting 
from  the  regular  speaker.  Also,  a  Thursday  evening  Confer- 
ence for  mutual  improvement  in  spiritual  things,  a  Monday 
evening  meeting  for  young  people  presided  over  by  Brother 
Ballou,  and  a  monthly  Sunday  evening  meeting  for  admonitory 
and  disciplinary  purposes,  under  the  supervision  of  the  Council 
of  Religion,  Conciliation,  and  Justice." 

So  much  for  the  state  of  things  within  our  own  borders 
in  relation  to  the  special  work  in  which  we  were  engaged 


THE  GENERAL  OUTLOOK  ENCOURAGING.      257 

and  to  the  cause  of  Christian  Socialism.  Nor  was  the 
wider  outlook  upon  the  world  around,  and  especially  upon 
the  world  of  general  Reform  and  Moral  Progress,  less 
auspicious  and  inspiring.  To  be  sure,  a  considerable 
number  of  social  experiments  which  commenced  operations 
about  the  time  of  our  locating  at  Hopedale  or  soon  after, 
ward  had  come  to  irretrievable  disaster,  so  that  the 
places  that  once  knew  them  knew  them  no  more ;  to  be 
sure,  there  was  still  abroad  the  same  deep-seated  and 
contumelious  distrust  of  all  forms  of  Associationism  — 
the  same  indifference  or  hostility  to  all  radical,  uncom- 
promising, high-principled  methods  of  bringing  the  king- 
dom of  God  into  the  world  among  the  dignitaries  and 
acknowledged  leaders  in  both  Church  and  State;  and  yet 
there  were  on  all  sides  signs  of  promise  to  the  friends  of 
Social  Reform,  and  from  diverse  directions  light  streamed 
in  through  the  dark,  chronic  conservatism  of  the  day. 
A  few  particulars  warranting  such  a  statement  may  be 
noted. 

In  the  New  York  Independent  of  Feb.  16,  1854,  an 
Orthodox  Cougregationalist  paper  of  distinctively  progress- 
ive tendencies  and  aspirations,  appeared  an  article  under 
the  caption  of  "  Christian  Colonies  in  the  West,"  in  which 
the  essential  principles  of  Christian  Socialism  were  stated 
and  urged  much  in  the  same  fashion  and  for  the  same 
reasons  that  we  had  stated  and  urged  them  from  the 
beginning.  After  descanting  upon  the  kind  of  persons 
needed  in  those  portions  of  our  common  country  lying 
mostly  beyond  the  Mississippi  River  to  restore  to  their 
former  allegiance  "  thousands  of  families  lost  to  the 
Church  by  removal,"  to  save  "  the  once  fair  and  flourish- 
ing professor  who  is  seen  relapsing  in  his  principles,  and 
with  perverted  taste  conforming  to  the  irreligious  habits 
of  frontier  life,"  to  stay  the  tide  of  demoralization  sweep- 
ing over  that  fair  and  fertile  region,  and  build  up  on 
sure  foundations  a  Christian  civilization  there  —  after 

17 


258  THE   HOPEDALE   COMMUNITY. 

affirming  that  a  high-minded,  noble- hearted,  consecrated 
class  of  people  should  emigrate  to  those  far-off  latitudes, 
the  question  of  the  manner  of  their  going  was  considered 
at  considerable  length,  indicating  the  extent  to  which  the 
socialistic  idea  had  taken  possession  of  the  author's  mind 
and  heart.  Mark  his  words : 

"How  then  should  such  persons  (as  he  had  described)  go 
West?  Observation  in  the  West,  and  a  careful  study  of  the 
whole  question  prompts  this  answer:  In  companies,  with  per- 
sons of  congenial,  moral,  and  religious  sentiments,  embracing 
mechanics  and  others  of  pecuniary  ability  to  make  the  school 
and  the  church  paramount  institutions  from  the  outset.  To 
name  the  reasons  for  this  opinion  is  enough.  It  will  contribute 
to  the  protection  of  those  emigrating."  "If  it  be  said  that 
the  Christian  should  be  a  light  everywhere  and  as  leaven 
among  the  ungodly,  the  position  will  not  be  denied;  but  the 
facts  are,  the  few  yield  to  the  many,  and  a  single  Christian 
family  or  a  few  poor  families  can  effect  little  in  a  community 
where  there  is  a  strong  pre-organized  irreligious  sentiment. 
A  weak  "society  may  be  formed  with  the  best  of  principles, 
but,  from  its  pecuniary  dependence,  only  be  led  and  perverted 
by  designing  men  to  the  dishonor  of  religion,  thus,  as  numer- 
ous localities  evidence,  inflicting  a  blow  on  a  given  denomina- 
tion from  which  it  will  require  years  to  recover." 

"  Organized  emigration  becomes  a  Christian  duty  if  a  new 
home  is  sought."  "  Fitful,  chance  lights  on  the  shore  will  not 
suffice  in  the  nights  of  darkness  and  storm;  no  more  will 
single  Christians,  mostly  poor,  and  of  necessity  secular  in  their 
pursuits,  scattered  through  the  West,  effect  that  which  requires 
to  be  done  by  a  combination  of  influence.  If  Christians,  then, 
would  unite  to  this  end,  '  the  solitary  place  would  be  glad  for 
them,'  and  the  report  would  go  out  through  the  land,  *  there 
are  profits  of  godliness  and  conquests  for  Christ.'  " 

"  There  are  social  and  material  bearings  of  this  question 
which  deserve  a  brief  mention.  We  are  made  for  society;  but 
society  is  not  '  got  up  to  order '  like  a  military  company  for 
an  emergency.  Persons  of  the  same  faith,  with  a  common  aim 
and  a  free  will,  embarking  together,  will  find  a  variety  of 
pleasing  correspondences  in  a  new  home  where  all  are  called 
to  the  same  trials  and  inspired  by  kindred  hopes.  Construct- 


DRIFT   OF   HUMANITARIAN   THOUGHT.  259 

ing  a  social  and  religious  fabric,  and  not  complaining  over 
that  which  cannot  be  remedied,  is  the  proper  employment,  and 
•contributes  to  real  affinity,  happiness  and  strength  of  charac- 
ter." "The  economies  of  the  question  are  evident." 

These  passages  are  but  samples  of  what  was  appearing 
with  increasing  frequency  at  that  time  in  the  more  pro- 
gressive and  reformatory  publications  of  the  land.  They 
indicated  a  growing  conviction  in  many  directions  of  the 
insufficiency  of  the  hitherto  employed  methods  of  alleviating 
the  woes  of  mankind  and  bringing  in  the  reign  of  right- 
eousness, and  of  the  need  of  a  radical  change  in  that 
regard  —  of  some  more  comprehensive  and  unitary  move- 
ment for  human  elevation  and  happiness  than  either  the 
•church  or  reformers  generally  had  yet  devised  —  of  some- 
thing indeed  quite  like  what  we  were  endeavoring  to  make 
a  factor  in  the  affairs  of  men  at  Hopedale.  To  our 
minds  they  were  proofs  that  the  drift  of  the  better  thought 
of  the  age  —  of  the  deepening  humanitarian  spirit  that 
was  abroad  —  was  towards  a  reorganization  of  the  entire 
social  fabric,  and  we  rejoiced  and  took  courage,  and 
pressed  forward  with  new  heart  and  hope  in  our  work. 

Nor  were  these  the  only  tokens  of  a  widely  growing 
interest  in  the  cause  we  held  so  dear  —  the  only  gleams 
of  light  shining  out  through  the  rifts  of  selfishness  and 
sin  to  illumine  our  pathway  and  give  us  good  cheer.  The 
pulpit  in  certain  directions  began  to  utter  itself  in  the 
same  behalf,  and  to  bear  testimony  to  the  glaring  defects 
of  the  existing  social  system,  though  it  rarely  proposed 
any  remedy  save  that  of  a  slow  outgrowth,  produced  by 
a  wider  diffusion  and  application  of  the  principles  and 
spirit  of  the  Gospel  to  human  life  through  individual 
responsibility  and  agency,  like  leaven,  leavening,  in  the 
process  of  time,  the  whole  lump  of  humanity.  Neverthe- 
less, there  were  a  few  instances  of  clergymen  who,  pene- 
trating more  deeply  into  the  causes  of  human  ill  and 
comprehending  more  fully  the  remedy,  openly  and  boldly 


260  THE   HOPEDALE   COMMUNITY. 

announced  and  defended  the  essential  principles  of  Social 
Reform,  or  commended  the  efforts  and  sacrifices  of  those 
engaged  in  applying  those  principles  practically  to  the 
manifold  relations  and  activities  of  life.  One  of  these, 
Rev.  J.  S.  Dennis,  a  Uuiversalist  minister,  in  a  sermon 
upon  "The  State  of  the  Times,"  after  depicting  the  dis- 
abilities, the  evils,  and  miseries  pertaining  to  the  existing 
order  of  society,  proceeded  to  affirm  that  the  only  sure 
remedy  for  such  a  state  of  things  ' '  lies  in  the  adoption 
of  such  social  and  industrial  arrangements  as  will  do  for- 
ever away  our  fierce  competitions  and  strifes,  and  secure 
to  the  laborer  the  certain  and  full  reward  of  his  toil ; 
such  arrangements  as  will  preclude  the  possibility  of  any 
becoming  immensely  rich  while  multitudes  are  held  in 
degrading  poverty;  such  arrangements  as  will  cause  the 
wealth  that  industry  produces  to  flow  equally  to  all  and 
secure  to  all  a  certain  and  never-failing  abundance."" 
He  then  adds  : 

"Do  not  let  it  be  said  that  this  state  of  things  cannot  be 
realized  and  that  most  easily.  Above  all  let  it  not  be  said  by 
any  one  who  has  studied  the  sublime  principles  of  the  Chris- 
tian Religion.  When  the  lofty  meaning  of  these  principles 
is  understood,  there  will  be  no  doubt  of  what  I  have  been 
asserting.  When  Christianity  shall  have  been  made  practical, 
in  the  manner  in  which  a  noble  Christian  man  whose  name  I 
delight  to  mention  here  to-day  is  endeavoring  to  make  it 
practical,  then  truly  the  ills  of  our  present  social  life  will  be 
removed. 

"  *  And  poverty  and  wealth,  the  thirst  of  fame, 

The  fear  of  infamy,  disease,  and  woe, 
War,  with  its  million  horrors  and  fierce  wrong, 
Shall  live  but  in  the  memory  of  time.' 

"I  refer  to  Rev.  Adin  Ballou,  who,  with  a  few  kindred 
spirits,  is  working  out  at  their  Community  at  Hopedale  the 
problem  of  unity  and  harmony  in  labor,  by  which  man  is  to 
be  led  from  want  and  misery  to  the  blessings  of  abundance 
and  to  happiness." 


PROPOSALS   FOR  NEW   COMMUNITIES.  261 

In  closing  his  discourse  the  preacher  exhorted  his 
hearers  to  give  the  subject  he  had  discussed  serious 
consideration,  for  "  in  it,"  he  said,  "  is  contained  the 
wisdom  that  hereafter  shall  work  our  social  regeneration 
tind  restore  the  lost  Eden."  In  calling  the  attention  of 
the  readers  of  The  Practical  Christian  to  this  sermon 
which  was  published  in  its  columns  I  said :  "  I  hope 
we  shall  hear  from  him  (the  author)  often.  It  greatly 
•encourages  us  to  see  the  flower  of  the  progressive  min- 
istry in  various  religious  denominations  advancing  into 
the  field  of  Christian  Socialism.  There  is  an  elect  host 
of  them  gradually  ripening  for  the  advocacy  of  this  great, 
comprehensive  and  crowning  reform." 

Facts  like  these,  continually  occurring,  could  not  but 
make  a  very  decided  impression  upon  the  minds  and 
hearts  of  all  our  more  thoughtful  and  aspiring  members, 
find  the  friends  of  Social  Reform  generally.  Moreover, 
letters  from  far  and  near  were  multiplying  expressing 
faith  in  our  distinctive  principles  and  methods  of  uplift- 
ing, harmonizing,  and  blessing  in  many  respects,  our 
fellowmeu ;  and  repeated  offers  of  lands  and  moneys  were 
made  to  us  in  aid  of  movements  kindred  to  our  own  that 
we  or  others  might  be  moved  to  inaugurate.  I  have 
already  referred  to  a  proposition  coming  from  the  state 
of  Pennsylvania,  in  which  the  writer  was  willing  to  put 
a  thousand  dollars  into  a  Community  enterprise  and 
furnish  seven  hundred  acres  of  land  possessing  unusual 
capabilities  and  resources  at  a  merely  nominal  price. 
Another  from  the  fertile  areas  of  Wisconsin  tendered  the 
gift  of  a  hundred  acres  and  personal  co-operation  for  the 
same  purpose.  A  third  interested  party  in  Ohio  would 
invest  his  entire  property — lauds,  mills,  etc.,  worth  some 
eight  or  ten  thousand  dollars  —  in  a  Community  if  one 
could  be  started  where  he  resided. 

These  and  other  considerations,  added  to  my  own  never- 
tiring  ambition  and  desire  and  the  prevailing  prosperity 


262  THE  HOPEDALE   COMMUNITY. 

of  Hopedale  affairs,  induced  me  to  undertake  the  elabora- 
tion and  consummation  of  a  scheme  which  I  had  for  a 
long  time  contemplated.  This  was  nothing  less  than  the 
formation  of  a  plan  for  a  communal  confederacy  —  for 
the  development  of  a  grand  system  of  society,  which 
should  bring  the  various  kinds  of  Community  that  might 
be  established  agreeably  to  its  provisions  into  close  affili- 
ation and  helpful  co-operation  with  each  other,  as  agencies 
in  promoting  the  economical,  industrial,  domestic,  social,, 
moral,  and  spiritual  well-being  of  the  children  of  men. 
This  I  was  able  to  bring  to  a  satisfactory  conclusion) 
during  the  spring  of  1854,  in  the  production  of  a  form 
of  organization  and  government  for  such  a  union  or  con- 
federacy under  the  title  of  A  Constitution  of  The  Practi- 
cal Christian  Republic.  The  Document  was  submitted  to 
my  brethren  for  examination,  criticism,  emendation,  and 
perfecting,  at  a  meeting  held  for  that  purpose  May  7r 
and,  after  long  and  patient  consideration  resulting  in 
sundry  alterations  and  amendments,  was  approved  and 
adopted  by  a  practically  unanimous  vote. 

By  this  action  of  the  Community  a  well-defined  public 
policy  and  the  line  of  confidently  expected  progress  for 
the  future  were  clearly  sketched  and  authoritatively  pre- 
scribed. The  accepted  Constitution  was  formed  on  the 
most  comprehensive  and  inclusive  plan,  making  provision 
for  a  wide  diversity  of  methods  and  activities  in  the 
direction  of  social  reconstruction.  It  granted  the  right 
and  privilege  of  forming,  as  conviction,  inclination,  or 
circumstances  might  suggest  and  allow,  four  different 
kinds  of  Fraternal  Associations  under  the  same  general 
head  and  as  co-equal  constituent  parts  of  the  same  great 
system,  to  be  denominated,  respectively,  Parochial,  Rural,. 
Joint-Stock,  and  Common-Stock  Communities.  All  the 
needful  details  of  organization  and  administration  pertain- 
ing to  each  of  these  were  set  forth  in  due  form  according 
to  the  light  I  then  had  and  to  the  best  of  my  ability. 


TRUE   SYSTEM   OF   HUMAN   SOCIETY.  263 

An  unabridged  copy  of  this  document  will  appear  in  the 
Appendix  of  this  volume,  and  to  that  the  reader  is 
referred  for  further  knowledge  of  its  nature  and  purpose. 
Another  important  and  laborious  achievement  of  the 
year  1854  in  the  interest  of  the  cause  with  which  our 
Hopedale  undertaking  was  identified  and  for  the  further- 
ance of  which  we  were  devoting  time,  effort,  money, 
energy,  —  all  we  had  of  executive  power  and  skill,  —  is 
briefly  delineated  on  pages  391,  392  of  my  Autobiography, 
from  which  I  venture  to  copy  herein  a  single  paragraph 
as  serving  sufficiently  the  ends  I  have  now  in  view. 

"  This  (the  framing  and  adoption  of  the  Constitution  of  the 
Practical  Christian  Republic)  being  accomplished,  I  felt  the 
importance,  as  it  was  sent  out  into  the  world,  of  having  it 
accompanied  with  some  explanation  or  elucidation  of  its  dis- 
tinctive characteristics  and  methods  of  operation;  and  this 
feeling  grew  upon  me  until  I  resolved  upon  preparing  and 
having  published  a  complete  exposition  of  what  I  deemed  the 
true  system  of  human  society,  comparing  it  carefully  with  the 
prevailing  system  and  with  certain  proposed  new  ones  that 
were  claiming  the  attention  of  philanthropists  and  reformers 
in  both  our  own  and  foreign  lands.  I  then  addressed  myself 
to  the  assigned  task,  devoting  my  time  and  strength,  so  far  as 
they  were  not  demanded  by  more  urgent  duties,  for  several 
months  to  the  preparation  of  such  a  work.  As  a  result  there 
issued  from  our  Community  press  towards  the  end  of  1854,  an 
octavo  volume  of  six  hundred  and  fifty-five  pages,  entitled, 
PRACTICAL  CHRISTIAN  SOCIALISM:  A  Conversational  Exposition 
of  the  True  System  of  Human  Society.  In  Three  Parts,  viz.  : 
I.  Fundamental  Principles;  II.  Constitutional  Polity;  III.  Supe- 
riority to  Other  Systems." 

Under  the  circumstances  indicated  on  the  foregoing 
pages  it  was  most  natural  and  legitimate  that  the  spirit 
of  propagandism  —  a  determination  to  enlarge  the  field  of 
our  missionary  operations  —  a  purpose  to  expand  our  work 
even  to  the  extent  of  taking  possession  of  new  localities 
and  of  founding  therein  new  communities,  should  be 


264  THE   HOPEDALE   COMMUNITY. 

engendered  among  us  and  prompt  us  to  definite  action  in 
regard  thereto.  After  the  adoption  of  the  Constitution 
of  the  Practical  Christian  Republic  by  the  Community 
and  subsequently  by  our  Quarterly  Conferenc^  at  West 
Wrentham  on  the  25th  of  June,  a  leading  subject  of 
discussion  among  us  was,  What  shall  we  now  do  to  carry 
forward  this  Social  Reform  movement  in  the  world  at 
large ;  to  make  its  merits  known  and  to  give  it  increased 
power  as  an  effective  means  of  redemption  to  mankind? 
At  a  meeting  of  the  Conference  held  at  Hopedale  Sept. 
16  and  17,  it  was 

"Resolved,  That  the  time  has  now  come  for  this  Conference 
to  institute  and  put  in  operation  an  efficient  system  of  pro- 
mulgation, and  the  Executive  Council  are  hereby  instructed  to 
prepare  and  present  to  the  next  Quarterly  Meeting  of  this 
body  a  draft  of  some  definite  plan  for  consideration  and  action." 

At  the  same  meeting  Wm.  S.  Hey  wood  delivered  a 
"Discourse  suggestive  of  efficient  measures  for  proclaim- 
ing The  Practical  Christian  Republic,  disseminating  its 
principles,  and  promoting  its  expansion,"  and  Adin  Bal- 
lon one  in  exposition  of  the  said  Republic,  in  its  objects, 
principles,  and  polity,  and  of  its  claims  upon  all  who 
accept  the  Religion  of  the  New  Testament. 

Pursuant  to  the  action  of  the  Conference  and  in  illus- 
tration of  the  spirit  that  animated  it,  one  thousand  dollars 
were  pledged  to  the  prosecution  of  the  proposed  work  for 
the  coming  year,  provided  an  efficient  system  of  mission- 
ary operations  could  be  established  as  contemplated.  At 
the  next  meeting  the  Executive  Council  reported  that 
several  tracts  relating  to  the  work  in  hand  had  been 
published  arid  were  ready  for  distribution,  but  that 
endeavors  to  put  lecturers  into  the  field  had  not  been 
crowned  with  success. 

Meanwhile,  under  the  inspiration  of  the  times,  I  had 
made  announcement  that  I  intended  to  devote  myself 


/fJRSITY 


WESTERN    COLONIZATION. 

thereafter  (so  far  as  domestic  duties,  health,  strength, 
opportunity,  and  Divine  Providence  permit)  to  the  Expan- 
sion and  Consolidation  of  The  Practical  Christian  Repub- 
lic, entering  the  field  as  a  determined  advocate  of  the 
New  Order  of  Society,  my  plans  and  methods  of  opera- 
tion being  in  a  general  way  outlined. 

Under  the  same  inspiration  the  subject  of  Western 
Colonization  began  to  be  agitated  in  our  borders,  as  it 
was  being  agitated  in  other  localities,  near  and  far  away. 
Bro.  Wm.  H.  Fish  became  deeply  interested  in  the  matter 
as  one  that  commended  itself  to  our  people  on  the  ground 
that  it  opened  to  us  a  way  in  which  we  could  advance 
our  peculiar  work  and  make  our  influence  felt  more  widely 
for  good  among  our  fellowmen.  In  several  articles  pub- 
lished in  The  Practical  Christian  during  the  autumn  of 
1854  and  afterward,  he  enumerated  the  advantages  to  be 
derived  from  such  colonization  to  those  engaging  in  it, 
and  the  benefits  that  might  accrue  to  humanity  thereby. 
He  made  a  special  appeal  to  those  interested  in  the  cause 
of  Social  Reform  and  besought  a  favorable  response.  In 
the  issue  of  our  paper  for  November  4,  he  states  the 
case  and  urges  his  plea  thus  : 

"It  has  long  been  a  favorite  idea  of  mine,  and  I  think  of 
the  leading  members  of  the  Hopedale  Community,  to  have 
some  of  God's  acres  in  the  far  West  redeemed  from  the  curses 
of  present  civilization  and  devoted  to  the  purpose  of  realizing 
upon  them  a  more  fraternal  and  Christian  order  of  social  life. 
And  it  would  gladden  my  heart  to  know  that  something  was 
being  done  to  secure  permanently  that  result.  If  I  could  aid 
such  an  undertaking  in  no  other  way,  it  should  have  my  good 
will  and  my  word  of  encouragement  and  hope.  I  doubt  not 
that  the  right  sort  of  persons,  with  right  principles,  though 
with  moderate  means,  might  in  a  few  years  attain  to  such  a 
position  of  prosperity,  excellence,  harmony  and  happiness, 
as  to  receive  the  respect  and  commendation  of  all  decently 
worthy  beholders,  and  to  teach  by  a  living  example  and  with 
powerful  effect  a  more  excellent  way  of  life  in  its  various 


266  THE   HOPEDALE   COMMUNITY 

relations.  The  time,  I  believe,  is  not  far  distant  when  this 
Community  or  the  Hopedale  Quarterly  Conference  will  take 
specific  action  in  this  direction." 

The  subject  discussed  in  the  foregoing  paragraph  was- 
kept  before  the  readers  of  our  paper  and  the  public  at 
large  by  successive  articles  from  the  same  pen  and  from 
the  pen  of  others  during  the  following  two  years.  Unprec- 
edented interest  was  awakened  in  different  'directions  and 
meetings  of  friends  of  the  Western  movement  were  held 
for  the  purpose  of  urging  its  claims,  enlisting  recruits  for 
its  service,  and  devising  ways  and  means  of  securing  its 
actualization.  At  one  held  in  Millville  early  in  1855, 
which  was  largely  attended,  an  advance  was  determined 
upon,  an  organization  effected,  a  Constitution  adopted, 
and  two  agents  appointed  to  visit  the  West  for  the  pur- 
pose of  selecting  a  location  and  making  needful  prepara- 
tions for  occupying  it.  Iowa,  Minnesota,  and  perhaps 
Kansas  and  other  states  were  to  be  visited  in  the  search 
for  the  most  desirable  section  in  which  to  make  a  begin- 
ning. Some  twenty  or  thirty  families  were  said  to  be 
ready  for  immediate  emigration,  while  letters  from  friends 
in  the  West  itself  gave  assurances  that  goodly  numbers 
there  would  gladly  join  the  movement  as  soon  as  it  should 
begin  practical  operations,  and  aid  in  carrying  it  forward 
to  a  successful  issue.  The  outcome  of  all  this  agitation 
and  action  will  be  reported  on  a  succeeding  page. 

Celebration  of  West  India  Emancipation.  It  was  our 
custom  at  Hopedale,  as  radical  Abolitionists,  to  celebrate 
from  year  to  year  the  Anniversary  of  the  Emancipation 
of  800,000  slaves  in  the  British  West  Indies ;  an  event 
which  took  place  by  a  decree  of  the  English  Government 
on  the  1st  of  August,  1834.  This  was  done  on  the  year 
in  review  in  a  pleasant  grove  near  the  southerly  borders 
of  our  domain,  half  a  mile  from  the  central  part  of  our 
village.  It  was  estimated  that  an  audience  of  about  eight 


CELEBRATION    OF   W.   I.   EMANCIPATION.  267 

hundred  persons  was  in  regular  attendance  upon  the 
exercises  and  that  not  less  than  a  thousand  visited  the 
grounds  during  the  day.  Besides  speakers  of  our  own, 
Adin  Ballou,  Wm.  H.  Fish,  and  Wm.  S.  Heywood,  there 
were  present  from  outside,  Rev.  James  T.  Woodbury  of 
Milford,  Rev.  Robert  Hassell  of  Mention,  Rev.  John  Boy- 
den  of  Woonsocket,  R.  I.,  Rev.  Geo.  S.  Ball  of  Upton, 
Rev.  Daniel  S.  Whitney  of  Southboro',  and  those  well- 
known  redoubtable  champions  of  Impartial  Liberty,  Henry 
C.  Wright  and  Charles  C.  Burleigh.  There  was  also  with 
us  a  remarkable  colored  woman,  once  a  slave  in  the  State 
of  New  York,  Sojourner  Truth,  whose  impassioned  utter- 
ances on  the  occasion  were  like  the  fiery  outbursts  of 
some  ancient  prophet  of  God  "  lifting  up  his  voice  like 
a  trumpet  and  showing  the  people  their  transgressions 
and  the  house  of  Jacob  their  sins."  The  general  tone  of 
the  meeting  and  the  nature  of  the  testimonies  given  may 
be  inferred  from  one  of  the  seven  resolutions  passed, 
which,  in  view  of  what  afterward  transpired,  seems  like 
a  veritable  prophecy  written  by  inspiration  from  on  high, 
as  evidenced  by  its  reproduction  here : 

"Resolved,  That  the  celebration  of  this  day  naturally  turns 
our  eyes  to  the  horrible  abominations  of  American  slavery 
and  inspires  us  with  fearful  forebodings  of  the  tremendous 
retribution  which  our  professedly  Republican  nation  is  treas- 
uring up  for  itself  by  obstinately  persisting  in  the  perpetration 
of  its  unparalleled  crimes  against  God  and  humanity;  that 
we  abhor  and  deplore  the  brazen  impudence  with  which  its 
government  justifies  the  wickedness  of  enslaving  millions  of 
beings  confessedly  endowed  with  uualienable  human  rights; 
that  we  behold  in  its  merciless  Fugitive  Slave  Laws,  in  its 
insatiable  ambition  to  extend  the  ravages  of  slavery  into  new 
territories,  in  its  daily  declension  from  all  its  former  professed 
love  of  liberty,  in  its  utter  contempt  of  British  emancipation, 
in  the  recklessness  of  its  aspiring  politiciaus,  in  the  subservi- 
ency of  all  its  departments  to  the  dictation  of  slaveholders,  in 
its  constitutional,  inherent,  habitual,  confirmed,  and  inveterate 


"268  THE   HOPEDALE   COMMUNITY. 

pro-slavery  tendencies,  unmistakable  evidence  that  it  is  ripen- 
ing for  some  terrible  convulsion  —  some  overwhelming  visita- 
tion of  calamity,  in  which  the  whole  nation  must  inevitably 
.share." 

Hopedale  Home  School.  During  this  year  1854  plans 
were  elaborated  and  put  into  execution  for  the  establish- 
ment within  our  borders  of  a  private  Boarding  and  Day 
School  which  should  provide  tuition  in  all  the  various 
branches  of  study  that  range  from  the  first  lessons  for 
juveniles  to  those  requisite  for  admission  to  the  college 
and  other  educational  institutions  of  equal  grade.  It  was 
also  designed  that  in  connection  with  this  scholastic  train- 
ing the  pupil  should  be  taught  the  laws  of  health,  in  order 
that  a  symmetrical  development  of  the  body  be  secured; 
also  the  conditions  and  laws  of  moral  and  spiritual  life, 
so  that  the  roots  of  selfishness  and  sin  should  be  elimi- 
nated from  the  nature  of  the  child,  and  all  the  higher 
faculties  of  the  soul  be  nurtured  and  inspired,  to  the  end 
that  he  become  amiable,  kind,  and  loving  to  his  fellow- 
creatures  and  grateful  and  obedient  to  our  Father  in 
heaven.  And  this  was  to  be  accomplished  under  influ- 
ences and  amid  surroundings  which  would  in  no  wise 
hinder  but  help  the  attainment  of  the  contemplated  object. 
The  active  agents  in  this  new  and  praiseworthy  enterprise 
were  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Morgan  L.  Bloom,  a  young  couple 
from  New  York  City,  well-fitted  for  the  work  by  native 
endowment,  scholastic  training,  refined  manners,  and  a 
restless  ambition  to  make  themselves  useful  in  the  world 
and  help  bring  a  better  kingdom  in. 

The  institution  opened  as  a  juvenile  and  rudimental 
Seminary  in  October,  1854,  furnishing  instruction  only  of 
an  elementary  character,  but  taking  on  its  higher  phases 
and  more  complete  form  the  following  spring, —  its  curricu- 
lum including  not  only  the  studies  usually  belonging  to  a 
regular  academic  course,  but  also  the  Elements  of  Agricul- 
ture, Book-keeping,  Vocal  and  Instrumental  Music,  Drawing 


ANNUAL    COMMUNITY   MEETING. 

and  Painting,  etc.  It  was  the  initiative  of  what  afterward 
became  a  somewhat  notable  educational  instrumentality  in 
Hopedale  and  vicinity  and  throughout  the  reformatory 
public  under  the  superinteudency  of  Wm.  S.  and  Abbie 
B.  Hey  wood,  continuing  in  operation  about  eight  years, 
acquiring  for  itself  an  enviable  reputation  for  scholarship, 
effective  service,  and  moral  standing,  and  leaving  behind 
it,  when  by  reason  of  the  breaking  out  of  the  Civil  War 
it  was  finally  given  up,  a  grateful  and  enduring  memory. 

FOURTEENTH  ANNUAL  MEETING. 

The  Fourteenth  Annual  Meeting  of  the  Community  wa& 
held  at  the  Chapel  Jan.  10,  1855.  Wm.  S.  Heywood 
was  chosen  Moderator,  and  Helen  L.  Mullikeu,  Secretary 
pro  tern.  After  an  invocation  of  the  divine  blessing  and 
the  transaction  of  a  few  items  of  incidental  business,  the 
President,  Ebenezer  D.  Draper,  delivered  an  address 
embodying  a  general  statement  of  the  moral,  social,  and 
industrial  standing  of  the  Community,  with  such  supple- 
mentary suggestions  and  recommendations  as  seemed  to 
him  wise  and  necessary  to  healthful  progress  and  perma- 
nent prosperity. 

The  Annual  Report  of  the  Treasurer  was  presented  > 
accompanied  by  corroborative  and  explanatory  statements 
from  the  Managers  of  the  several  branches  of  industry 
in  the  order  named  :  Post  Office,  Livery,  Transportation, 
Agriculture,  Box-Making,  Soap  and  Candle  Factory,  Boot 
and  Shoe  Manufacture,  Painting,  Machine  Business,  Horti- 
culture, Orcharding,  Printing,  Grist  Mill,  Cabinet  Shop. 
From  that  Report  it  appeared  that  the  whole  amount  of 
Community  property,  Dec.  31,  1854,  was  $60,441.08;  of 
liabilities  $59,090.87.  There  was,  therefore,  left  to  pay 
dividends,  $1,350.21.  Adding  to  this  the  sum  of  the 
deficits  for  1852  and  1853,  $471.23,  which  had  been 
cancelled  during  the  last  year,  and  it  made  the  net  profits 
on  the  operations  of  1854,  $1,821.44.  Deducting  the 


270  THE   HOPEDALE   COMMUNITY. 

amount  of  dividends  on  the  Joint-Stock,  $1,574.00  and 
there  remained  a  final  net  gain  over  all  expenses  and 
obligations  of  $247.44  —  a  sum  which,  though  small,  was 
larger  than  ever  existed  before. 

From  the  statements  of  the  Managers  it  appeared  that 
the  amount  paid  for  labor  within  the  jurisdiction  of  the 
Community  was  $18,341.68.  Of  this,  residents  on  our 
territory  received  $15,090.50;  non-residents,  $3,251.18. 
The  amount  paid  for  labor  on  individual  account  was 
$3,039.00.  Of  this  sum,  there  went  to  residents,  $1,320.00  ; 
to  non-residents,  $1,719.00.  The  entire  amount  there- 
fore, paid  for  labor  within  our  proper  boundaries  was 
$21,380.68;  to  residents,  $16,410.50;  to  non-residents, 
$4,970.18.  By  this  showing  it  was  made  evident  that 
from  a  financial  point  of  view  the  year  1854  had  been 
advantageous  to  all  concerned  —  to  the  employed,  who 
had  received  satisfactory  compensation  for  their  services, 
and  to  the  Community,  which,  out  of  the  proceeds  of 
its  industrial  activities,  had  paid  all  its  expenses,  met  all 
its  obligations,  returned  the  stipulated  four  per  cent,  to  its 
stockholders,  and  was  read}7  to  start  out  on  another  year 
•owing  no  man  anything  but  love  and  goodwill. 

The  several  Boards  of  Official  Servants,  the  personnel . 
of  which  differed  little  from  year  to  year,  were  filled  at 
this  meeting  as  detailed:  E.  D.  DRAPER,  President;  ABBIE 
J.  SPALDING,  Recorder ;  ALMON  THWING,  WM.  S.  HEYWOOD, 
JOSEPH  B.  BANCROFT,  STEPHEN  ALBEE,  Directory ;  WM.  H. 
HUMPHREY,  ANN  E.  FISH,  E.  S.  MULLIKEN,  LUCY  H. 
BALLOU,  SARAH  B.  HOLBROOK,  JOHN  LOWELL  HEYWOOD, 
Council;  LEMUEL  MUNYAN,  Treasurer;  WM.  H.  FISH, 
NOYES  S.  WENTWORTH,  CATHARINE  G.  MUNYAN,  Board  of 
Education;  ALMIRA  B.  HUMPHREY,  WM.  W.  COOK,  ANNA 
T.  DRAPER,  HENRY  LILLIE,  Relief  Committee;  WM.  S. 
HEYWOOD,  ANNA  T.  DRAPER,  WM.  H.  FISH,  HELEN  L. 
MULLIKEN,  SYLVIA  W.  BANCROFT,  Committee  of  Promulga- 
tion; ABNER  ADAMS,  Steward. 


ADDRESS   OF   THE   PRESIDENT.  271 

A  few  extracts  from  the  Address  of  the  President  may 
not  be  out  of  place  in  this  connection.  It  is  significant 
as  showing  how  unreservedly  he  at  the  time  felt  himself 
committed  to  the  cause  which  the  Community  represented, 
and  how  unwavering  was  his  faith  in  the  ultimate  triumph 
of  that  cause  as  a  regenerating  agency  in  the  world  of 
mankind. 

"Beloved  Associates:  We  come  together  to-day,  all  things 
considered,  under  favorable  circumstances.  I  think  we  are  as 
united  and  harmonious  in  our  various  relations  as  ever  before 
and  that  there  is  a  growing  interest  in  the  welfare  and  suc- 
cess of  our  holy  enterprise.  I  have  reason  to  believe  that  on 
the  whole  selfishness  is  decreasing,  and  that  the  experience  we 
have  had  is  drawing  us  nearer  and  nearer  to  each  other  in 
the  bonds  of  a  true  Christian  Fraternity,  where  brotherly  love 
shall  more  and  more  abound.  Still  we  have  many  imperfections 
to  outgrow  and  great  progress  to  make  before  reaching  that 
condition  of  individual  and  social  excellence  which  our  divine 
principles  are  capable  of  superinducing  in  our  hearts  and  lives. 
May  we  now  and  ever  seek  the  aid  of  our  Heavenly  Father  — 
the  aid  which  we  must  have  in  order  to  fulfill  the  duties  incum- 
bent upon  us  as  members  of  this  Community." 

"  The  present  crisis  in  financial  aifairs  around  us,  compelling 
business  men  and  men  of  wealth  to  pay  18,  20  and  even  30  per 
cent,  for  money,  suspending  industrial  operations,  throwing 
hundreds  into  bankruptcy  and  thousands  out  of  employment, 
suggests  to  us  the  importance  of  looking  about  us  and  of 
ascertaining,  if  possible,  the  causes  of  this  state  of  things. 
And  especially  are  we  reminded  of  the  necessity  of  looking 
at  home,  to  see  if  we  cannot  improve  our  condition  by  more 
labor,  more  economy,  and  by  more  knowledge  of  the  things  in 
w  hich  the  financial  success  of  an  individual  and  of  a  Commu- 
nity consists.  I  think  the  meetings  held  of  late  to  discuss 
matters  relating  to  expenditures  and  modes  of  living,  and  to 
consider  the  obligations  of  the  Community  to  the  individual 
and  of  the  individual  to  the  Community,  have  been  and  will 
be  productive  of  much  good.  I  am  glad  to  see  the  improve- 
ment there  is  in  the  spirit  which  prevails  at  such  meetings; 
that  it  is  more  fraternal  and  Christian.  When  we  can  come 
together  and  talk  plainly  concerning  what  we  shall  eat,  drink, 


272  THE   HOPEDALE   COMMUNITY. 

and  wear  —  talk  of  economizing  in  a  way  that  shall  be  under- 
stood by  those  at  fault,  and  all  preserve  a  loving  disposition 
and  maintain  a  proper  self-control,  I  think  it  speaks  much 
for  our  good.  May  we  ever  be  wise  in  what  we  say  and  in 
what  we  hear." 

"May  we  learn  wisdom  by  the  experiences  we  are  passing 
through  as  we  labor  together  here  in  the  great  cause  of  Social 
Reform.  May  we  be  faithful  to  our  high  calling.  As  for  me 
and  my  house,  we  have  enlisted  for  life,  and  I  thank  God  that 
he  called  me  so  early  into  the  work  and  that  he  has  blessed 
me  with  means  to  help  it  forward.  That  I  may  be  more 
worthy  of  it  and  more  worthy  of  your  love  and  confidence,  is 
the  prayer  of  your  friend  and  brother. 

"E.  D.  DRAPER." 

Brief  extracts  from  the  Report  of  the  Board  of  Educa- 
tion are  introduced  to  show  what  provision  was  made  by 
us  during  those  busy,  responsible  years  for  the  proper 
intellectual  and  scholastic  training  and  nurture  of  our 
children  and  youth,  such  training  and  nurture  being 
always  accompanied  by  sedulous  care  for  their  moral  and 
spiritual  well-being. 

"Our  school  has  not  been  open  as  many  months  the  past 
year  as  it  ordinarily  is,  in  consequence  of  the  remodeling  of 
the  building  in  which  it  has  been  kept;  but  it  has,  neverthe- 
less, been  making  a  commendable  and  encouraging  improve- 
ment, both  in  education  and  deportment.  It  has  been  divided 
within  the  year  into  two  departments,  Mrs.  Abbie  S.  Heywood 
having  charge  of  the  older  and  more  advanced  pupils,  and 
Mrs.  Helen  L.  Mulliken,  the  care  of  the  younger  ones.  The 
former  has  been  the  teacher  for  several  years  and  stands 
deservedly  high  among  us  for  her  varied  qualifications  for  her 
work;  and  the  latter  though  comparatively  a  new  teacher  is 
doing  remarkably  well  and  giving  general  satisfaction.  They 
receive  their  remuneration  from  the  school  appropriation  of 
the  town  of  Milford  for  a  part  of  the  year,  and  from  the 
Community  for  the  remainder;  the  town  and  town's  committee- 
always  seeming  to  be  disposed  to  do  full  justice  to  us." 

"  There  was  a  brief  season  when  we  did  not  get  back  any  of 
our  taxes  in  this  way ;  but  now  that  an  understanding  is  estab- 
lished between  us,  we  anticipate  only  satisfaction  and  harmony^" 


REPORT   OF   SCHOOL   COMMITTEE.  273 

"  The  division  of  our  school  before  referred  to  has  worked 
well  and  has  fully  compensated  for  the  extra  cost  consequent 
upon  it.  Our  educational  facilities  and  prospects  were  never 
before  so  good.  And  with  our  greatly  improved  accommoda- 
tions, with  two  such  teachers  as  we  have,  —  teachers  who  are 
well  qualified  for  their  chosen  mission  and  deeply  interested  in 
it  —  it  cannot  be  otherwise  than  that  a  more  manifest  improve- 
ment than  heretofore  will  be  constantly  made.  We  shall  be 
justified  in  expecting  much  and  if  visible  progress  is  not  real- 
ized during  the  year  upon  which  we  have  entered  we  shall 
have  sufficient  cause  for  complaint.  But  whoever  visits  these 
schools  will,  we  confidently  believe,  find  them  speaking  for 
themselves  and  reflecting  deserved  honor  upon  the  teachers, 
the  pupils  and  the  Community." 

"  If  parents  and  guardians  do  their  duty,  as  we  do  not  doubt 
they  will  do  according  to  their  knowledge  and  ability,  then 
there  will  be  nothing  in  the  way  of  our  yet  having  a  '  model ' 
school  —  a  school  in  which  each  pupil  will  be  able  to  receive 
the  elements  at  least  of  that  kind  of  education  adapted  to  the 
peculiar  calling  in  life  which  he  or  she  may  select,  whether 
that  of  scholar,  artist,  mechanic,  teacher,  farmer,  or  whatever 
other  employment  a  man  or  woman  can  honorably  engage  in. 
And  gradually  to  create  such  a  model  school  is  our  aim  and 
ambition,  and  we  shall  ultimately  accomplish  our  object." 

Under  such  flattering  auspices  as  are  indicated  in  the 
foregoing  pages,  the  Community  once  more  entered  upon 
its  annual  career.  All  things  conspired  to  invigorate  our 
purposes  and  aims,  to  fill  our  hearts  with  gladness  and 
gratitude,  and  to  make  us  feel  that  our  great  humanitarian 
venture  had  reached  the  "full  tide  of  successful  experi- 
ment." Our  activities,  industrially  and  otherwise,  as  well 
as  our  ambitious  hopes,  were  multiplied  and  intensified, 
and  we  pressed  forward  in  our  course  with  renewed  and 
unquestioning  courage  and  zeal.  Our  faith  seemed  chang- 
ing rapidly  to  sight;  our  victory  drew  near. 

At  a  meeting  held  on  the  7th  of  February,  an  Enact- 
ment was  passed  providing  for  the  creation  of  a  Contingent 

18 


274  THE   HOPEDALE   COMMUNITY. 

Fund  by  increased  subscriptions  to  the  Joint-Stock,  the 
design  of  which  was  to  insure  the  more  prompt,  effective 
and  satisfactory  conduct  of  the  financial  affairs  of  the 
Community  and  of  individuals  connected  with  it,  in  the 
carrying  on  of  business,  the  payment  of  debts,  and 
the  meeting  of  all  claims  of  a  pecuniary  nature.  It  was 
virtually  the  establishment  of  a  sort  of  Bank  of  Exchange, 
to  be  in  charge  of  the  Directory  and  Treasurer,  from 
which  both  the  managers  of  Community  industries  and 
private  parties  could  draw,  in  any  case  of  emergency  or 
special  demand,  for  money  with  which  to  serve  their 
temporary  needs  and  relieve  them  of  anxieties  and  per- 
plexities to  which  under  ordinary  circumstances  they  would 
not  only  be  liable  but  frequently  subjected.  It  was 
believed  that  this  arrangement  would  contribute  both  to 
business  efficiency  and  ease,  and  to  the  general  harmony 
and  contentment. 

An  industrial  enterprise  of  the  early  part  of  the  year 
was  the  starting  of  a  Book-bindery  and  Blank  Book 
Manufactory  under  Community  auspices  and  with  the 
sanction  of  Community  authorities.  This  establishment 
was  equipped  with  the  best  modern  machinery  and  other 
appliances  for  prosecuting  the  work  to  be  done,  and  men 
competent  to  use  the  same.  Our  faithful  and  trustworthy 
brother,  Lemuel  Munyan,  was  chosen  General  Agent  of 
the  company  interested  in  it. 

Our  missionary  operations,  carried  on  with  special  refer- 
ence to  Community  expansion,  were  considerably  enlarged 
and  distributed  over  a  continually  widening  area.  I  was 
myself  busy  in  the  general  neighborhood  of  Hopedale, 
going  hither  and  thither  over  a  territoiy  having  a  radius 
of  some  forty  or  fifty  miles,  with  occasional  visits  to 
more  distant  localities,  proclaiming  the  principles  and 
polity  of  the  Practical  Christian  Republic,  and  preparing, 
as  I  thought  and  believed,  the  way  for  its  speedy  upbuild- 
ing on  the  earth.  Rarely  a  Sunday  passed,  when  I  was 


MISSIONARY   LABORS.  275 

not  by  permanent  arrangement  at  home,  that  I  did  not 
hold  two  and  frequently  three  services  elsewhere,  while 
many  week-day  evenings  were  employed  in  lecturing,  either 
upon  my  distinctive  chosen  theme  or  subjects  tributary 
to  it.  As  all  roads  in  the  ancient  time  led  to  Rome,  so 
in  my  philosophy  and  in  my  practice  all  specific  moral 
reforms  were  suggestive  and  helpful  of  Social  Reform  — 
pointed  to  and  culminated  in  a  new  and  divine  order  of 
society. 

At  the  same  time  Bro.  Win.  H.  Fish  was  laboring 
diligently  and  conscientiously  in  the  same  blessed  behalf. 
For  a  while  we  both  occupied  the  same  general  field  —  the 
region  round  about  home.  But  in  the  month  of  April,  he 
went  out  on  a  preaching  and  lecturing  tour  to  the  central 
part  of  the  state  of  New  York,  in  execution  of  a  plan 
previously  arranged  and  announced  through  the  columns  of 
The  Practical  Christian.  The  paper  had  many  subscribers 
scattered  here  and  there  through  that  general  region,  and 
these  gave  him,  as  he  journeyed  from  place  to  place,  most 
hearty  welcome,  and  provided  facilities  whereby  he  was 
•enabled  to  deliver  his  message  to  large  numbers  of  people 
interested  in  whatever  proposed  to  ameliorate  the  condi- 
tion of  mankind  and  bring  in  a  better  future  to  the  world. 
He  spent  the  greater  part  of  the  remainder  of  the  year  in 
the  section  of  country  named,  and  his  letters  to  our  organ 
bore  abundant  testimony  to  the  unwavering  fidelity  and 
tireless  industry  with  which  he  proclaimed  the  gospel  of  the 
new  era  to  the  children  of  men.  He  was  occasionally  wel- 
comed to  Unitarian  and  Universalist  pulpits,  as  he  was 
to  those  of  congregations  which  had  seceeded  from  some 
of  the  more  popular  denominations  on  account  of  their 
complicity  with  American  slave-holding  and  were  main- 
taining the  institutions  of  religion  under  the  name  of 
Christian  Unionists  —  the  distinguished  philanthropist  and 
statesman,  Gerritt  Smith,  being  prominent  in  the  move- 
ment. But  much  of  his  labor  was  performed  in  public 


276  THE   HOPEDALE  COMMUNITY. 

balls  or  school-houses,  and  in  the  homes  of  people  hospi- 
table to  progressive  and  reformatory  ideas. 

Just  how  life  at  Hopedale  in  those  days  appeared  to 
an  outside  observer  may  be  gleaned  from  an  editorial 
published  in  The  Wbonsocket  Patriot  in  the  month  of 
May,  which  reads  as  follows  : 

"Hopedale  Community.  On  Tuesday  we  made  a  flying  visit 
to  this  home  of  Associated  Industry  located  in  the  neighbor- 
ing town  of  Milford.  The  village  is  one  of  the  pleasantest  in 
this  section  of  country,  presenting  an  inviting,  homelike  aspect. 
The  pretty  dwellings  and  their  surroundings  give  evidence  of 
order  and  neatness ;  while  the  inhabitants  looked  like  pictures 
of  happy  content.  All  were  busy;  we  saw  not  an  idler  in  the 
village,  notwithstanding  the  Community  suffers,  in  common 
with  all  of  us,  by  the  general  dullness  of  the  times.  There 
are  sixteen  branches  of  business  carried  on  under  Community 
auspices,  among  them  a  printing  office  and  three  occupied  mill 
privileges.  Of  dwelling-houses  there  are  forty-one,  including 
three  concrete  octagons.  The  presiding  genius  of  this  *  Happy 
Valley'  is  Adin  Ballou,  who  has  spent  the  prime  of  his  man- 
hood in  efforts  to  practically  demonstrate  the  advantages  of 
associated  labor.  He  is  a  man  of  enlarged,  philanthropic 
views,  guided  by  a  clear  head,  and  governed  by  principle.  We 
think  he  is  not  fully  appreciated  by  the  great  world  —  and 
perhaps  this  is  consequent  upon  his  being  shut  up  in  his  little- 
world  of  'Hopedale.'" 

The  matter  of  emigration  to  the  West  was  kept  con- 
stantly in  mind,  forming  a  theme  of  frequent  conversation 
and  discussion  with  us  and  our  friends  at  home  and 
abroad,  and  entering  more  or  less  into  the  addresses  of 
our  ministers  and  lecturers.  It  had  come  to  be  taken 
for  granted  that  new  Communities  were  to  be  started 
at  an  early  day,  under  which  assumption  some  of  our 
brethren  who  had  the  time  and  means  visited  the  states 
of  Minnesota,  Iowa,  etc.,  in  quest  of  a  suitable  location 
for  the  same,  though  without  any  immediate  definite 
results.  At  a  Conference  held  in  Hopedale  on  June  9, 


PLANS   FOR  COLONIZATION   MATURING.  277 

our  President,  E.  D.  Draper,  who  had  recently  returned 
from  such  an  expedition,  stated  that  while  his  search  had 
not,  for  various  reasons,  been  as  successful  as  he  and 
others  had  hoped,  yet  he  felt  that  the  time  was  near  at 
hand  when  a  site  for  a  settlement  should  be  secured. 
Through  the  columns  of  TJie  Practical  Christian  its  readers 
and  the  interested  public  were  kept  advised  in  regard 
to  what  was  taking  place  respecting  this  contemplated 
forward  step  of  our  general  cause.  In  its  issue  of 
June  30,  one  of  our  editors,  over  the  signature  of  "H.," 
referring  to  it,  says:  "As  yet,  but  little  has  been 
accomplished,  either  in  the  way  of  securing  territory  or 
of  bringing  forward  persons  suitable  in  responsibility  or 
numbers  for  the  undertaking.  Nevertheless,  it  is  quite 
certain  that  another  year  will  not  roll  round  before  a 
domain  will  be  obtained,  either  in  Wisconsin  or  Iowa, 
and  consecrated  to  the  Divine  Kingdom."  In  that  of 
August  11,  "  W.  H.  F."  says  :  "  The  project  is  not  given 
up  and  its  prospects  seem  to  us  better  than  ever.  Our 
esteemed  friend,  David  Campbell,  of  the  New  Lebanon 
Springs  Hydropathic  Establishment,  has  taken  great 
interest  in  the  matter,  and,  having  three  sons  in  Minne- 
sota, has  given  us  such  information  respecting  that  terri- 
tory that  we  are  now  thinking  seriously  of  going  there,  at 
least  to  explore.  Let  not  our  friends,  therefore,  whose 
faces  are  westward,  despair,  but  be  patient  and  hopeful 
awhile  longer.  And  let  those  who  are  in  earnest  to  go 
send  us  their  names  to  record  as  prospective  pioneers." 

Six  weeks  later,  the  same  writer,  who  believed 
thoroughly  in  the  movement  and  was  its  most  active 
promoter,  was  authorized  to  announce  that  "  a  Commu- 
nity in  Minnesota  is  a  probable  fact  in  the  not  distant 
future.  Two  of  our  enterprising  and  excellent  brothers, 
George  O.  Hatch  and  Elijah  S.  Mulliken,  young  men, 
both  carpenters,  are  to  start  from  Hopedale  for  the 
above-named  territory  on  the  first  day  of  October  with  a 


278  THE   HOPEDALE   COMMUNITY. 

view  of  spying  out  the  laud  and  finding  a  good  place  to 
locate  upon.  They  will  probably  spend  the  winter  there 
and  therefore  be  able  to  give  us  accurate  information 
respecting  that  most  dreaded  season  of  so  northern  a 
latitude.  Some  other  friends  will  probably  join  them  on 
the  way  or  follow  them." 

The  immediate  result  of  this  initiative  step  was  reported 
November  1 7  as  follows  : 

"It  is  with  great  satisfaction  that  we  announce  to  our 
friends  abroad  the  success  attending  the  explorations  of  Bros. 
Hatch  and  Mulliken,  who  left  Hopedale  some  weeks  since  for 
the  purpose  of  procuring  and  settling  a  domain  for  a  new 
Community  in  the  great  West  Recent  letters  from  them 
inform  us  that  they  have  succeeded  in  finding  a  location  pos- 
sessing almost  every  conceivable  natural  advantage  desirable 
for  such  an  undertaking.  Operations  are  to  be  commenced 
immediately.  They  are  providing  themselves  with  equipments 
for  a  winter's  campaign  in  an  entirely  new  territory  twenty- 
five  or  thirty  miles  away  from  any  human  settlement  or  habi- 
tation. They  are  full  of  hope  and  zeal.  Heaven  prosper  them. 

"  The  place  selected  is  now  government  laud  and  not  yet  in 
the  market.  It  can  be  obtained  only  under  the  U.  S.  Pre- 
emption Law  —  every  actual  settler  claiming  and  holding  160 
acres  aud  no  more.  It  is  desirable,  therefore,  that  a  goodly 
number  of  persons  join  our  friends  as  soon  as  practicable  in 
order  to  secure  a  large  tract  for  the  purposes  in  view.  They 
have  accordingly  called  upon  us  for  recruits.  Several  persons 
will  leave  Hopedale  on  the  19th  inst.  in  response,  and  it  is 
hoped  that  if  there  are  any  friends  abroad  favorable  to  this 
new  movement  they  will  do  what  they  can  to  aid  it.  It  would 
give  all  concerned  great  pleasure  to  have  ten,  fifteen,  twenty, 
or  more  good  men  —  true  Reformers  —  go  out  at  this  time  and 
take  up  "claims"  with  those  from  this  place,  holding  them 
for  the  general  purposes  of  the  enterprise,  at  least  until  they 
can  be  secured  by  title  deeds.  What  say  you,  friends?  Those 
who  go  should  be  willing  to  enter  into  a  mutual  obligation 
whereby  any  certain  portion  or  the  whole  of  the  land  taken 
up  shall  be  hereafter  devoted  to  Community  uses  if  a  majority 
so  decide,  each  individual  being  guaranteed  a  fair  compensa- 


EXPERIENCES    OF   WESTERN   COLONISTS.  279 

tion  for  all  improvements  made  by  him  previous  to  such 
appropriation.  Will  any  come  to  our  aid?  Now  is  the  time 
for  action." 

The  party  referred  to  in  the  above  quotation  as  in 
preparation  for  leaving  Hopedale  November  19  to  join 
the  one  which  went  before,  bade  farewell  to  friends  there 
as  proposed,  and  hastened  on  their  way  as  fast  as  rail- 
car  and  steamer  could  carry  them.  It  consisted  of  four 
persons,  thoroughly  in  earnest,  looking  forward  with  fond 
expectation  to  meeting  those  who  had  preceded  them,  and 
uniting  with  them  in  founding  a  new  home  for  them- 
selves and  their  dependants  on  the  virgin  soil  of  the 
Minnesota  prairies,  so  full  of  promise  to  the  industrious 
and  skillful  husbandman.  They  hoped  to  reach  their  place 
of  destination  before  cold  weather  should  impede  trans- 
portation or  hinder  them  seriously  in  getting  established 
in  comfortable  winter  quarters.  They  confidently  expected 
that  their  forerunners  would  have  at  least  one  cabin 
erected,  a  supply  of  provisions  on  hand,  and  other  neces- 
saries for  their  protection  and  sustenance  until  they  should 
be  able  to  make  ample  provision  in  these  regards  for 
themselves.  But  all  phases  of  human  life  have  their 
difficulties,  disappointments,  and  reverses,  and  a  pioneer 
experience,  beyond  the  sound  of  human  habitation,  in  an 
unexplored  region,  with  a  bitter  winter  coming  on,  is  not 
without  its  full  share  of  them,  as  the  sequel  in  this  case 
fully  showed. 

It  is  sufficient  for  the  present  to  state  that  the  plans 
and  efforts  of  these  resolute,  high-purposed  emigrants, 
going  forth  from  their  pleasant,  cheerful,  well-furnished 
homes,  seeking  what  they  believed  would  ultimately  be 
to  them  a  better  inheritance,  were  destined  to  a  complete 
temporary  failure.  The  first  party  in  their  attempt  to 
reach  their  chosen  location  a  second  time  with  teams 
purchased  at  St.  Paul  and  loaded  with  lumber,  household 
goods,  provisions,  and  the  like  for  immediate  use,  were 


280  THE   HOPEDALE   COMMUNITY. 

obliged,  by  reason  of  the  severity  of  the  weather,  the 
irnpassableiiess  of  the  country  across  which  their  journey 
ran,  and  their  ignorance  of  the  proper  or  best  route  for 
reaching  their  chosen  place  of  settlement,  to  make  a  retreat 
and  defer  all  further  efforts  till  the  coming  spring.  Seek- 
ing employment  at  different  localities  for  the  interim  and 
failing  to  find  it,  they  disposed  of  their  team,  goods  and 
chattels,  and  the  principals,  Messrs.  Hatch  and  Mullikeu, 
returned  very  soon  after  to  Hopedale. 

Meanwhile  the  second  party,  of  which  J.  Lowell  Hey- 
wood  and  Lyman  Allen  were  the  responsible  leaders, 
knowing  nothing  of  their  predecessors'  discomfiture,  hurried 
along  their  way  with  many  hindrances  and  vexations, 
reaching  Monticello,  forty  miles  above  St.  Paul,  some 
days  after  the  others  had  turned  their  faces  eastward, 
and  learning  there  for  the  first  time  of  the  actual  status 
of  affairs  and  of  the  consequent  dilemma  in  which  they 
themselves  were  placed.  After  reviewing  thoughtfully  the 
situation  and  taking  counsel  of  friends  at  Hopedale  and 
elsewhere,  they  decided  to  remain  where  they  were,  get 
what  they  could  of  employment  during  the  intervening 
months,  and  prepare  for  active  preparations  in  the  early 
spring.  What  they  finally  did  will  be  detailed  hereafter. 

In  the  undoubting  expectation  that  these  brethren  and 
friends  would  be  successful  in  their  laudable  venture,  and 
that  an  offshoot  of  the  Hopedale  Community  was  to  be 
planted  in  the  western  soil  without  further  delay,  I  spent 
much  time  and  thought  during  the  summer  and  early 
autumn  in  devising  and  putting  in  proper  form  a  Consti- 
tution suited  to  the  needs  of  a  Community  formed  and 
operating  under  circumstances  like  those  amid  which  the 
one  contemplated  would  be  placed.  It  was  published  in 
full  in  The  Practical  Christian,  and  thereby  submitted  to 
the  considerate  judgment  of  whomsoever  it  might  con- 
cern. But  the  progress  of  events  and  the  convulsion 
that  even  then  was  hastening  us  on  to  irretrievable  dis- 


NEW   FEATURE   OF   COMMUNITY   LIFE.  281 

aster  rendered  such  service  oil  my  part,  and  many  of  my 
other  labors,  null  and  void. 

Ignorant  as  I  was  of  the  drift  of  things  and  iuappre- 
hensive  of  approaching  doom,  I  later  in  the  season  con- 
ceived and  elaborated  into  a  definite  plan  a  new  idea 
concerning  the  constitutional  structure  and  working  policy 
of  the  general  Community  system.  It  was  that  provis- 
ion should  be  made  for  the  organization  of  subordinate 
associations  among  the  members  —  wheels  within  the 
main  wheel  —  to  be  called  Communes,  composed  of  per- 
sons of  similar  tastes,  inclinations,  and  pursuits,  drawn 
together  by  elective  affinity  and  acting  under  a  simple 
compact  or  bond  of  agreement  for  the  accomplishment  of 
an  object  or  of  objects  mutually  agreeable  and  satisfac- 
tory, responsible  to  the  parent  Community  only  in  matters 
pertaining  to  fundamental  principles,  interests  of  universal 
concern,  and  the  common  organic  polity  which  it  had 
established.  It  seemed  to  me  that  such  Communes,  prop- 
erly related  to  each  other,  would  strengthen  the  Commu- 
nity itself  and  secure  several  very  important  results : 
1.  Variety  in  unity ;  2.  Freedom  from  undue  centralization 
of  power  and  from  prescribed  uniformity  of  rules,  formali- 
ties, and  methods,  in  matters  really  unessential  and  extrin- 
sic;  3.  Congenial  companionship  in  business  affairs  and  in 
other  cherished  interests  common  to  those  associated 
together. 

To  give  this  new  feature  of  Community  life  the  benefit 
and  test  of  practical  experimentation  and  to  meet  certain 
existing  needs  among  our  people,  I  myself  led  off  in  the 
formation  of  an  association  thus  provided  for.  partly  for 
the  purpose  of  carrying  on  certain  industries  that  had 
recently  been  introduced  within  our  borders  by  some  of 
our  incoming  members,  and  that  were  in  rudimeutal  and 
semi-chaotic  condition,  and  partly  to  aid  some  of  my 
fellow-associates  in  acquiring  the  means  of  independent 
and  honorable  self-support  —  said  association  to  be  called, 


282  THE   HOPEDALE   COMMUNITY. 

as  it  was  called  during  the  brief  period  of  its  existence, 
Hopedale  Commune  No.  1,  similar  co-partnerships  being 
expected  to  follow  and  to  be  designated  by  numerals 
in  their  proper  order.  An  Act  was  passed  by  the  Com- 
munity December  14  authorizing  this  new  departure  in 
our  general  polity,  signatures  were  obtained  to  a  Special 
Compact  or  Bond  of  Union,  an  organization  was  effected, 
and  operations  shortly  after  began.  The  body  started 
with  some  six  or  eight  members,  myself  included,  and  in 
order  that  the  venture  might  be  wisely  inaugurated,  I 
consented  to  act  as  its  President  and  virtually  to  father 
its  financial  obligations.  Several  kinds  of  business  were 
established  by  us,  the  principal  of  which  was  the  manu- 
facture of  a  tackle-block,  or  device  for  lifting  in  a  per- 
fectly safe  way  heavy  bodies  in  warehouses,  on  board 
vessels,  and  elsewhere  —  a  contrivance  invented  and 
patented  by  one  of  our  number.  The  required  mone- 
tary investment  exceeded  our  calculations  and  available 
resources,  and  we  found  ourselves  at  the  outset  heavily 
burdened  with  debt.  Our  chief  article  of  production  did 
not  secure  the  market  we  anticipated,  which,  with  the 
crisis  that  not  long  after  came  in  Community  affairs, 
produced  confusion  in  our  ranks  and  plans,  the  result  of 
which  was  the  dissolution  of  the  Commune  ere  its  impor- 
tance and  value  as  a  factor  in  our  general  movement 
had  been  fairly  tested. 

And  so  the  year  1855  was  brought  to  its  close  —  a 
year  of  unusual  activity  in  every  department  of  our  com- 
plex and  comprehensive  undertaking  —  a  year  in  which  all 
our  leading  and  most  responsible  members  were  taxed  to 
the  utmost ;  in  which  great  expectations  were  raised  and 
great  plans  laid  for  the  future ;  in  which  we  were  reaching 
out  into  new  territory  whereon  to  build  new  outposts  for 
the  prosecution  of  the  work ;  in  which  our  labors  and 
prayers,  our  aspirations  and  self-denials,  our  faith  and 
our  hope  seemed  nearing  their  consummation,  and  our 


FIFTEENTH  ANNUAL  MEETING.  28S 

cause  its  triumph  and  its  crown; — but  a  year  alas!  whose 
weeks  and  months  were  hurrying  us  on  as  fast  as  time 
could  carry  us,  to  the  end  of  our  communal  career.  For 
the  day  of  reckoning  was  at  hand  —  the  day  that  sealed 
our  fate  as  a  Community,  and  visited  us  with  disastrous 
overthrow  ! 

The  fifteenth  Annual  Meeting  of  the  Community  was 
held  in  our  Chapel,  Jan.  9,  1856,  its  sessions  continuing 
through  the  day  and  evening.  The  President,  E.  D. 
Draper,  presented  his  customary  Address,  embodying,  in 
a  general  way,  from  his  point  of  view,  a  summary  of 
Community  operations  during  the  preceding  year  in  its 
several  departments,  its  then  present  condition,  and  its 
prospects  for  the  time  to  come.  The  Treasurer,  for  rea- 
sons that  were  satisfactory  at  the  time,  asked  leave  to 
defer  his  yearly  statement  of  the  public  finances  for  a 
month,  and  his  request  was  granted.  The  Board  of 
Education  through  Win.  S.  Heywood  (the  Chairman, 
Wm.  H.  Fish,  being  absent),  made  their  Report,  which 
was  accepted.  The  Relief  Committee  also  made  a  state- 
ment of  the  amount  expended  by  them  during  the  year, 
the  names  of  beneficiaries  and  the  sums  received  by  them 
being,  as  was  our  custom,  withheld.  The  balloting  for 
Community  Officers  for  the  ensuing  year,  including  that 
of  Vice  President,  which  had  been  added  to  the  list  by 
recent  Enactment,  resulted  in  the  election  of  the  follow- 
ing-named persons,  viz.  :  E.  D.  DRAPER,  President;  WM. 
S.  HEYWOOD,  Vice  President;  CYRUS  BRADBURY,  Recorder; 
WM.  H.  HUMPHREY,  ANN  E.  FISH,  LUCY  H.  BALLOU, 
GEORGE  GAY,  ANNA  T.  DRAPER,  Council;  JOSEPH  B.  BAN- 
CROFT, STEPHEN  ALBEE,  WM.  W.  COOK,  Directory ;  LEMUEL 
MUNYAN.  Treasurer;  WM.  S.  HEYWOOD,  ANN  E.  FISH, 
CATHARINE  G.  MUNYAN,  MELISSA  M.  INMAN,  GEORGE  GAY, 
Board  of  Education;  ALMIRA  B.  HUMPHREY,  PHILA  O. 
WILMARTH,  RICHARD  WALKER,  DANIEL  H.  CARTER,  Reliej 
Committee;  WM.  S.  HEYWOOD,  ANNA  T.  DRAPER,  GEORGE. 


THE   HOPEDALE   COMMUNITY. 

O.   HATCH,    ELIJAH    S.    MULLIKEN,    PHILA   O.   WILMARTH, 
Committee  of  Promulgation. 

The  meeting  passed  off  harmoniously  and  quietly,  no 
one  even  suspecting  that  any  peril  to  our  organization 
and  its  interests  was  impending  —  much  less  that  we  were 
on  the  brink  of  a  precipice  from  which  we  were  soon 
to  be  hurled  to  our  doom.  The  reports  generally  were 
enlivened  by  a  tone  of  cheerfulness,  and  that  of  the 
President  was  especially  encouraging  in  its  closing  passages 
and  calculated  to  allay  any  apprehension  of  coming  ill 
that  might  have  arisen  in  the  minds  of  any  of  us.  The 
more  important  portions  of  it  are  subjoined : 

"Beloved  Associates:  I  have  but  a  very  brief  and  some- 
what imperfect  statement  to  make  to  you  of  the  affairs  and 
operations  of  the  Community  in  its  various  departments  and 
dependencies  during  the  past  year.  The  Treasurer  has  not 
had  time  and  assistance  sufficient  to  render  it  possible  for  him 
to  so  audit  his  accounts  as  to  make  his  usual  statement  with 
any  degree  of  confidence  and  certainty,  and  proposes  to  ask 
your  indulgence  for  a  short  time  to  enable  him  to  finish  up 
his  work  with  due  care  and  to  his  own  satisfaction.  The 
reports  of  the  several  branches  of  business  operating  under 
the  auspices  of  the  Community  are  made  up,  and  will  be  read 
to  you  in  their  proper  time  and  place. 

"  The  Directory  acting  concurrently  with  the  Trustees  have 
just  obtained  of  each  member,  probationer,  and  responsible 
dependant,  a  detailed  and  definite  statement  of  his  or  her 
financial  standing,  which  they  design  to  repeat  in  years  to 
come.  This  plan  will,  I  think,  be  of  great  advantage,  if 
judiciously  managed,  to  all  parties  concerned  —  to  the  persons 
themselves  and  to  the  Community.  It  will  enable  the  Direc- 
tory to  know  how  each  and  all  are  getting  along  from  year  to 
year,  to  make  their  assessments  justly,  to  favor  and  relieve 
those  whose  conditions  and  circumstances  demand  it,  and  to 
accept  or  require  responsibilities  and  risks  of  those,  and  only 
those,  who  are  able  to  take  them  without  endangering  the 
stability  of  their  own  or  the  Community's  financial  affairs.  I 
think  that  this  plan  will  be  of  especial  service  to  the  individ- 
ual. It  will  help  all  to  know  for  themselves  —  every  family 


PRESIDENT'S   ADDRESS.  285 

to  know  for  itself  —  just  where  they  stand  in  respect  to  the 
means  and  resources  of  subsistence,  and  to  their  worldly  pos- 
sessions. They  will  ascertain  how  much  their  income  is  and 
how  much  are  their  outgoes.  They  will  then  be  able  to  tell 
definitely  whether  they  live  within  their  means  or  not,  and  be 
led  thereby  to  institute  such  inquiries  in  regard  to  industry, 
economy,  and  the  like,  as  cannot  be  otherwise  than  salutary 
upon  themselves  and  upon  the  whole  body.  I  hold  it  to  be 
the  duty  of  every  one  to  know  his  or  her  pecuniary  standing, 
and  whether  their  income  is  sufficient  to  cover  their  expendi- 
tures or  not,  and  it  seems  to  me  that  this  new  and  more 
precise  tnethod  than  any  heretofore  pursued  will  aid  much  in 
the  way  of  discharging  that  duty. 

"  From  the  statements  obtained  from  individuals  under  this 
new  method  we  find  the  whole  amount  of  individual  property 
to  be  $146,386;  the  whole  amount  of  individual  indebtedness, 
$53,479;  making  the  individual  property  free  of  debt,  $92,907. 
Amount  of  gains  in  the  Community,  $2,144;  in  business  abroad, 
$6,574;  total  gains  for  the  year  of  $8,718.  Amount  of  losses 

for  the  year,  $1,416;   showing  a  net   gain  of  $7,302 

The  whole  amount  paid  for  labor  for  the  year  past  in  the 
general  operations  of  the  Community,  aside  from  what  individ- 
uals may  have  expended  on  their  own  account,  was  $18,114.46 ; 
of  which  foreigners  received  about  $2,400.00." 


"We  may  rejoice  together  in  considering  the  degree  of 
harmony  that  exists  at  the  present  time  in  the  Community; 
greater  I  think  than  ever  before.  And  I  hope  and  believe 
that  with  our  past  experiences  and  present  advantages  we  shall 
continue  to  increase  in  love  and  wisdom,  and  so  become  more 
and  more  a  light  to  those  around  us,  proving  to  the  world 
that  Christian  Socialism  opens  a  more  excellent  way  in  which 
men  may  live  together,  and  that  it  gives  us,  as  it  will  all  who 
yield  to  its  saving  power,  '  peace  and  good  will '  to  one  another 
and  the  whole  human  race.  May  the  good  God  prosper  and 
bless  us  all. 

"E.  D.  DRAPER." 

In  listening  to  these  utterances  one  could  hardly  antici- 
pate that  in  less  than  two  months  it  would  be  deemed 
necessary  to  abandon  the  Joint-Stock  Proprietorship  and 


286  THE   HOPEDALE   COMMUNITY. 

Industrial  System  of  the  Community,  and  so  virtually  give 
up  the  ship  in  which  our  hopes  our  fortunes  and  our 
destinies  were  launched.  And  yet  to  that  inexorable  con- 
clnsion  were  we  brought  and  by  processes  not  difficult  of 
apprehension,  as  will  be  presently  seen. 

It  is  to  be  observed  that  the  cheering  picture  of  the 
•condition  of  property  affairs  presented  in  the  President's 
address  and  of  the  gains  made  during  the  year  1855  did 
not  relate  to  Community  affairs  at  all,,  but  to  those  of 
individuals.  And  it  should  be  understood  that  at  least 
three  fourths  of  the  $7,302.00  net  gain  were  made  by 
himself  and  his  brother  George,  in  profitable  business 
operations  carried  on  entirely  outside  of  our  associated 
industries,  in  which  neither  the  Community  nor  other  indi- 
viduals had  any  direct  interest  whatever.  It  was  a  piece 
of  good  fortune  for  the  brothers  named  and  every  way 
honorable  on  their  part,  but  it  concerned  the  rest  of  us 
no  further,  and  was  no  further  encouraging  to  us,  than 
that  it  would  enable  them,  out  of  their  generosity  and 
regard  for  the  Community,  to  render  it  substantial  aid  in 
any  unprovided  for  emergency  or  time  of  special  need. 

At  an  adjournment  of  the  Annual  Meeting,  held  Feb- 
ruary 5,  the  Treasurer,  Lemuel  Munyan,  submitted  his 
deferred  report,  a  summary  of  which  is  given  to  our 
present  readers. 

"The  amount  of  property  on  hand  (Dec.  31,  1855)  is  as 
follows,  to  wit:  Dues  from  branches  including  lands  charged 
to  Horticulture,  Orcharding,  and  Agriculture,  $25,117.92;  Real 
Estate,  including  wood-land  and  buildings,  $24,471.98;  Sundry 
Book  Accounts,  $6,010.40;  Bills  Receivable,  $8,053.41;  Box 
Branch  Tools,  $290.25;  Dues  to  Transportation  and  Saw  Mill, 
$741.56;  Interest  on  Bills  Receivable,  $469.57 ;  Ten  per  cent,  on 
Machine  Branch  gains,  $120.00;  total,  $35,275.09.  The  liabilities 
of  the  Community  are:  Joint-Stock,  $41,300.00;  Bills  payable, 
$14,792.14;  Sundry  Book  Accounts,  $8,042.40;  Interest  due, 
$990.67;  Transportation  Debts,  $60.03;  Taxes  unpaid,  $235.03; 
Total,  $65,420.24.  Deducting  the  Assets,  $65,275.09,  shows  a 
deficit  of  $145.15." 


UNANTICIPATED   REVELATION.  287 

This  statement  was  no  doubt  correct  so  far  as  it  went, 
but  it  made  no  mention  of  what  was  required  to  meet  the 
four  per  cent,  dividends  due  on  Joint-Stock,  amounting  to 
$1,652.00;  nor  is  there  in  it  any  allowance  or  estimate 
for  depreciation  in  the  value  of  buildings,  machinery,  tools, 
etc.,  which  had  taken  place  during  the  twelvemonth  pre- 
ceding, but  which  had  not  been  cancelled  by  repairs, 
purchases,  or  improvements. 

The  upshot  of  the  whole  matter,  which  could  no  longer 
be  disguised  or  kept  out  of  sight,  was,  that  the  Commu- 
nity had  been  running  seriously  behindhand  in  its  indus- 
trial departments  —  and  that  its  financial  condition  was 
sadly  demoralized.  A  shrewd  business  man  or  an  expert 
in  finance  could  easily  see  by  looking  over  the  situation, 
that  the  Community  liabilities  actually  exceeded  its  assets 
by  several  thousand  dollars,  and  that  under  our  peculiar 
circumstances  we  were  pecuniarily  in  a  very  bad  way. 
Of  this  fact,  I  presume,  Bro.  George  Draper  was  abun- 
dantly satisfied,  or,  at  least,  was  convinced  that  as  things 
ivere  going,  either  the  Community  would  ere  long  become 
bankrupt  or  be  obliged  to  draw  upon  him  and  his  brother 
Ebenezer  for  a  greater  sum  to  extricate  it  from  its  diffi- 
culties and  meet  its  obligations  than  he  was  disposed  to 
give  it.  At  any  rate  it  soon  transpired  that  he  was 
becoming  weary  of  Community  financiering,  especially  when 
his  capital  was  involved  and  when  it  blocked  the  way  of 
his  money-making  ambition. 

Nevertheless,  when  the  situation  was  made  apparent  to 
us  and  it  was  seen  that  something  must  be  done  to  meet 
the  emergency,  we  set  ourselves  about  devising  some 
expedient  by  which  that  end  could  be  gained.  The  one 
that  finally  obtained  favor  and  secured  adoption  was  that 
of  assessing  the  members  of  the  Community  to  an  extent 
sufficient  to  liquidate  the  four  per  cent,  dividends  and 
cancel  the  nominal  losses  that  had  been  experienced,  and 
this  was  carried  into  effect,  so  far  as  outside  parties  were 


288  THE   HOPEDALE   COMMUNITY. 

concerned  —  all  such  being  paid  their  rightful  claims  in 
full. 

In  accomplishing  this  result  and  therewith  arranging 
many  kindred  matters,  there  were,  as  may  be  supposed, 
protracted  and  drastic  discussions  both  inside  and  outside 
of  our  public  meetings,  which,  on  the  whole,  had  no 
tendency  to  promote  harmony  and  confidence  but  rather 
distrust  and  ill-feeling.  If  there  were  blame  in  the  man- 
agement of  business,  as  many  believed  to  be  the  case,  it 
was  difficult  to  locate  it,  although  the  head  of  one  branch 
openly  confessed  to  what  was  at  least  a  semi-betrayal  of 
the  trust  reposed  in  him,  practiced  for  several  years  and 
causing  a  considerable  percentage  of  the  existing  losses ;  as 
an  idemnity  for  which  he  surrended  his  private  property  — 
house,  lot,  furniture,  tools,  etc., —  to  the  Community. 

Failing  to  discover  definitely,  save  in  this  instance, 
where  the  fault  was,  it  was  natural  and  easy  to  attribute 
it  to  the  system,  and  this  was  the  culminating  accusation. 
In  making  it  the  lead  was  taken  by  George  Draper, 
before-named,  who  had  been  with  us  but  a  short  time,, 
and  who  probably  never  had  more  than  a  half-faith  in 
Community  life  or  in  the  fundamental  principles  which 
constituted  the  basis  of  our  movement.  He  was  a  man 
thoroughly  honest  in  his  opinions,  upright  in  his  dealings, 
and  of  undoubted  integrity  and  honor.  A  man,  however, 
of  inflexible  will,  and  one  not  to  be  turned  from  his  pur- 
pose if  its  attainment  were  within  the  realm  of  possibility. 
Hence,  when  he  came  to  feel  that  our  socialistic  under- 
taking was  financially  impracticable,  that  it  stood  in  the 
way  of  his  success  as  a  business  man  of  the  world,  and 
that  therefore  it  must  be  abandoned,  so  far  at  least  as 
he  was  concerned,  all  his  energies  were  directed  to  the 
accomplishment  of  that  result.  Inasmuch  as  he  and  his 
brother  were  intimately  associated  in  an  important  indus- 
try, and  must  act  concurrently  in  all  matters  affecting: 
that  industry,  it  was  his  first  concern,  in  taking  measures 


PROFOUND   DISAPPOINTMENT.  289 

to  gain  the  end  he  had  in  view,  to  win  his  brother  to 
his  own  way  of  thinking  and  secure  his  co-operation  in 
withdrawing  their  joint  capital  from  the  Community  treas- 
ury. It  was  some  time  before  he  succeeded  in  doing  this, 
but  at  length  by  argument  and  appeal  urged  with  unre- 
lenting persistency,  his  point  was  gained,  and  this  point 
gained  the  destiny  of  the  Community  was  sealed.  The 
two  owned  three-fourths  of  its  Joint-Stock  and  the  with- 
drawal of  that  from  our  working  capital  would  cripple  us 
beyond  power  of  recovery. 

This  I  saw  clearly  as  soon  as  I  learned  that  these  two 
men  had  decided  to  take  the  position  indicated,  and  a 
deathlike  chill  settled  upon  and  almost  froze  my  heart. 
What  I  then  and  for  months  afterward  suffered  of 
disappointment,  mortification,  and  grief,  it  would  be 
alike  difficult  and  useless  to  describe.  But  I  was  able 
finally  to  rise  above  it  and  am  now  not  only  reconciled  to 
my  seeming  calamity  but  rejoice  in  it.  Regarding  things 
as  I  do  at  present.  I  would  not  lift  a  finger  to  save  such 
a  Community  from  its  legitimate,  predetermined  fate.  It 
served  as  a  school  of  valuable  experience  to  its  members 
and  others  connected  with  it,  and  as  an  instructive  lesson 
to  those  who  looked  upon  it  and  knew  of  its  varied  for- 
tunes, and  to  coming  generations.  Such,  in  the  Provi- 
dence of  the  all-wise,  all-loving  Father,  was  its  mission, 
and  that  mission  it  fulfilled. 

I  have  stated  that  the  decision  of  the  Brothers  Draper 
to  withdraw  their  proportion  of  stock  from  the  available 
funds  of  the  Community  was  the  culmination  of  the 
tragedy  —  the  verdict  which  pronounced  the  Community's 
doom.  The  rest  of  us,  with  our  limited  resources,  were 
practically  powerless.  We  were  in  no  condition  to  pur- 
chase their  interest  in  the  property,  except  by  using  our 
credit,  as  we  might  have  done,  and  raising  the  requisite 
means  among  our  outside  sympathizing  friends  or  the 

19 


290  THE  HOPEDALE   COMMUNITY. 

money-lending  public.  Some  of  our  number  were  desirous 
of  pursuing  this  course,  and  urged  it  with  considerable 
persistency  and  zeal  —  with  a  determination  born  of  their 
faith  in  the  underlying  principles  of  our  cause  and 
worthy  of  the  devotion  with  which  they  had  ever  sus- 
tained and  defended  it.  But  to  have  done  this  would 
have  been  alike  fool-hardy  and  perilous  —  would  have 
loaded  ourselves  with  a  burden  of  debt,  which,  in  all 
probability,  would  sooner  or  later  not  only  have  crushed 
the  life  out  of  us,  but  would  have  defrauded  those  who 
might  yield  to  our  appeal  and  befriend  and  help  us. 
The  proposition  therefore  was  not  to  be  entertained  for 
a  moment  longer  than  was  necessary  to  see  its  bearings 
and  reject  it.  The  only  thing  for  us  to  do  was  to  yield 
to  the  inevitable  and  make  the  best  of  it. 

Forced  to  this  conclusion  we  at  once  set  about  arrang- 
ing the  conditions  and  details  of  a  transfer  of  the  Com- 
munity property  to  the  Draper  brothers,  agreeably  to  their 
wishes,  and  of  adjusting  all  our  financial  and  industrial 
affairs  in  a  manner  every  way  equitable  and  honorable. 
My  position  in  respect  to  our  movement  from  the  begin- 
ning, among  my  associates  and  before  the  world,  was 
such  as  to  make  me  specially  interested  and  responsible 
in  this  matter,  and  I  determined  that  in  the  final  settle- 
ment the  Drapers  should  obligate  themselves  to  take  the 
entire  Joint-Stock  property  at  an  appraisal  that  would 
enable  them  to  cancel  all  the  liabilities  of  the  Community  t 
which  they  were  to  assume,  so  that  no  further  assess- 
ments should  be  made,  or  further  losses  fall,  on  any  of 
our  members  or  our  friends  and  creditors  outside.  To 
this  they  willingly  agreed  and  entered  into  written  bonds 
for  the  execution  of  the  contract ;  and  these  they  in  due 
time  discharged  to  the  satisfaction  of  all  concerned. 

The  many  preliminaries  to  this  final  arrangement  of 
affairs  were  gone  through  with  and  decided  upon  in  regu- 
lar Community  meetings,  held  at  frequent  intervals  during 


CONSTITUTIONAL   CHANGE.  291 

the  month  of  February,  and  by  the  agency  of  Committees 
•chosen  to  aid  in  the  work.  When  everything  was  at 
length  settled  in  these  regards,  it  became  necessary  to 
take  further  definite  Community  action,  in  order  to  com- 
plete the  revolutionary  process  and  establish  the  changed 
regime  in  the  History  of  Hopedale. 

These  things  were  required :  1 .  To  decide  by  Consti- 
tutional vote  that  the  change  verbally  provided  for  and 
agreed  upon  should  be  made.  2.  To  alter  and  amend 
the  Constitution,  By-Laws,  and  several  Enactments  of 
the  Community,  so  as  to  conform  them  in  all  respects 
to  the  new  order  of  things  respecting  property-holding, 
business  .management,  and  other  secular  interests  and 
concerns.  3.  To  institute  measures  for  the  appraisal  of 
the  property  that  was  to  pass  into  the  possession  of  the 
Drapers,  for  its  proper  legal  conveyance  to  the  same, 
and  for  protecting  the  rights  of  each  and  every  one  in 
any  way  involved  in  the  transactions  that  were  taking 
place.  All  this  was  accomplished  at  a  meeting  held  on 
the  evening  of  Saturday,  March  8,  and  before  the  month 
closed  everything  pursuant  thereto  was  adjusted  and  per- 
manently settled.  So  that  on  the  1st  of  April,  1856,  the 
new  industrial  and  economical  system  in  our  village  was 
fully  established,  and  The  Hopedale  Community,  as  the 
type  of  a  regenerated  form  of  .human  society,  and  an 
attempt  to  realize  the  Kingdom  of  God  on  earth,  for 
which  so  many  of  us  had  prayed  and  toiled  and  sacri- 
ficed for  so  many  years,  had  become  a  thing  of  the 
past  —  had  been  transformed  into  a  mere  religious,  moral 
reform,  and  mutual  guaranty  association.  Its  glory  had 
departed ;  its  sun  had  set  forever. 

From  that  time  forward  our  beloved  Hopedale  village 
became  gradually  secularized  and  conformed  to  the  habits, 
customs,  and  usages  of  similar  boroughs  elsewhere,  losing 
that  distinctive  character  and  the  well-earned  reputation 
which  its  founders  and  responsible  guardians  always  felt 


292  THE  HOPEDALE   COMMUNITY. 

was  "rather  to  be  chosen  than  great  riches."  Business- 
enterprise  and  management,  having  now  assumed  the 
scepter  and  the  control  of  the  fortunes  of  the  place, 
returned  to  the  methods  and  maxims  of  the  unregenerate 
world,  no  longer  subject,  except  as  individual  conscience 
might  suggest  and  demand,  to  the  principles  of  Practical 
Christianity  dominant  there  from  the  beginning.  Employes 
were  engaged  or  discharged,  as  interest  or  convenience 
dictated  with  little  regard  to  higher  considerations.  Old 
residents,  whose  services  for  any  reason  were  not  wanted, 
or  who  could  do  better  elsewhere,  departed,  and  new 
comers  multiplied,  not  always  of  a  moral  type  agreeable 
to  the  tastes  and  convictions  of  previous  settlers.  All 
that  was  left  to  the  Community,  as  such,  was  moral 
power. 

This,  to  be  sure,  was  very  considerable  at  the  outset,, 
and,  although  it  perceptibly  waned  from  year  to  year, 
somewhat  of  it  has  remained  for  good  unto  the  present 
day.  How  long  it  will  last  and  be  availing  to  any 
appreciable  extent,  I  cannot  foresee.  But  from  the  moment 
that  Community  control  over  the  general  domain,  over 
property,  industry,  labor,  inhabitancy,  etc.,  was  surren- 
dered, it  could,  in  the  nature  of  things,  be  only  a  ques- 
tion of  time  when  the  last  vestige  of  our  undertaking  must 
be  obliterated,  and  when  all  its  distinguishing  ideas  and 
principles  so  precious  to  many  of  us  would  be  deemed  of 
little  account,  even  if  they  were  not  looked  upon  as  an 
impertinence  and  an  offence  in  the  very  places  where  they 
were  once  exalted  and  glorified.  Some  of  our  members  did 
not  see  that  such  would  be  the  ultimate  result  of  what  had 
transpired,  and  were  disposed  to  hold  on  to  our  organiza- 
tion, to  struggle  on,  and  labor  on,  and  pray  on,  in  the  hope 
that  we  should  be  able  after  a  few  years  to  regain  what 
we  had  lost,  take  up  once  more  the  work  that  had  been 
laid  down,  and  go  forward  to  a  long  deferred  victory. 
I  was  myself  inclined  at  first  to  take  this  view  of  the 


HOPE  OF  RECOVERY  GONE.  293 

situation ;  but  I  soon  came  to  understand  from  the  revolu- 
tionary character  of  the  change,  from  the  spirit  and 
ambition  of  those  to  whose  demands  we  had  yielded  and 
in  whose  hands  we  were  as  potter's  clay,  and  from  many 
other  considerations,  that  this  could  not  be  —  that  all 
such  hope  was  illusory  and  vain.  I  saw  that  if  The 
Hopedale  Community  was  ever  to  be  resuscitated  —  that 
if  ever  the  truth  it  stood  for,  the  principles  it  represented 
and  held  sacred  and  inviolable,  were  ever  to  be  made  the 
basis  of  a  similar  endeavor  to  set  up  the  kingdom  of 
righteousness,  brotherhood,  and  peace  on  the  earth,  it 
must  be  in  some  new  locality ;  not  on  the  ruins  of  our 
former  venture,  not  where  all  our  purposes,  and  plans, 
and  expectations  had  gone  down  in  disastrous  overthrow, 
but  on  virgin  soil,  beneath  more  favoring  skies,  amid 
better  surroundings,  and  with  material  better  fitted  by 
nature,  by  culture,  by  consecration,  to  the  sublime, 
divinely  appointed  work.  God  in  his  great  mercy  grant 
that  in  his  own  good  time  that  place  may  be  found  and 
that  work  be  done.  So  shall  The  Hopedale  Community 
have  a  glorious  resurrection,  —  an  apotheosis,  of  which  its 
earlier  manifestation  was  but  the  harbinger  and  prototype. 
With  the  decadence  of  the  Community,  as  an  exponent 
and  practical  illustration  of  Christian  Socialism,  passed 
into  oblivion  or  into  a  state  of  arrested  development, 
many  plans  and  schemes  dependent  upon  or  supplement- 
ary to  it,  while  our  whole  system  of  propagandism 
received  a  shock  and  a  set  back  from  which  it  has  never 
been  able  to  recover.  If  our  missionaries  went  abroad 
to  proclaim  the  gospel  previously  represented  by  it,  their 
words  were  shorn  of  much  of  their  pertinency  and  power 
by  the  failure  of  our  efforts  to  actualize  that  gospel  in 
the  manifold  relations  of  life  at  home.  As  a  moral  and 
religious  teacher,  called  of  God,  as  I  believed,  to  fill  that 
office,  I  could  not  wholly  cease  from  my  ministrations  in 
behalf  of  what,  notwithstanding  all  disappointments  and 


294  THE   HOPEDALE   COMMUNITY. 

failures,  I  still  believed  to  be  true  and  right,  and,  as  a 
consequence,  essential  to  the  enlightenment,  regeneration, 
and  happiness  of  mankind ;  yet  I  felt  that  I  was  seriously 
handicapped  by  what  had  transpired  and  that  rny  utter- 
ances had  lost  much  of  the  vitality  and  effectiveness  which 
formerly  characterized  them  and  made  them  acceptable 
and  profitable  to  my  fellowmen.  Nevertheless,  I  must  go- 
forward  in  the  same  general  way  as  before,  following  the 
same  lines  of  thought  and  discourse,  though  obliged  by 
the  circumstances  of  the  case  to  deal  more  with  the  theo- 
retical than  with  the  practical  aspects  of  divine  truth, 
save  in  its  application  to  individuals  in  their  more  imme- 
diate personal  relations  to  God  and  man,  and  to  treat  of 
it  in  its  larger  phases  and  applications,  as  a  means  of 
building  up  the  divine  kingdom  on  the  earth,  and  of  the 
obligations  it  imposed  upon  men  in  that  regard,  ideally 
and  prophetically  rather  than  otherwise  —  as  something 
to  aspire  after  and  to  be  realized  in  the  sometime  future, 
but  not  in  the  living  present  of  the  world's  history. 

My  brethren  in  the  ministry  felt  much  as  I  did  in  this- 
matter,  and  were  impelled  to  adopt .  essentially  the  same 
ministerial  policy  and  pursue  the  same  lines  of  ministerial 
service.  To  be  sure,  there  was  enough  for  us  to  do  in  the 
way  of  seeking  to  "  turn  men  from  darkness  to  light  and 
from  the  power  of  Satan  unto  God  " ;  enough  to  do  in  war- 
ring against  the  great  evils  of  social  and  civil  life,  Slavery, 
War,  Intemperance,  Licentiousness,  Commercial  Fraud, 
Political  Corruption,  etc.,  and  in  urging  forward  the 
specific  reforms  that  were  calculated  to  overcome  these 
iniquities  and  banish  them  from  the  world ;  but  at  the 
same  time  we  still  believed  that  pure  Christianity  meant 
more  than  these  things,  more  than  individual  enlighten- 
ment and  sanctificatiou,  more  than  the  abolition  of  social 
abuses  and  abominations  and  the  triumph  of  great  and 
good  causes ;  we  believed  it  meant  a  Redeemed  Order  of 
Human  Society,  the  Kingdom  of  God  on  the  Earth.  And 


WESTERN   MOVEMENT   POSTPONED.  295 

tins  belief  must  still  come  in  to  shape  more  or  less  our 
testimonies,  to  give  direction  to  our  endeavors,  to  fill  the 
measure  of  our  heart's  desire  for  humanity  and  keep  alive 
in  our  souls  a  sense  of  God's  presence  and  providence  in 
the  world  and  of  his  beneficent  purpose  touching  the 
children  of  men.  So  we  wrought  on  as  best  we  could  in 
the  places  that  opened  to  us  here  and  there,  trusting  that 
though  our  fondest  expectations  were  not  to  be  realized 
by  us  or  perhaps  by  any  in  the  near  future,  our  efforts, 
put  forth  in  all  sincerity  and  earnestness,  would  yet  be 
to  some  extent  efficacious  in  urging  forward  the  cause  of 
human  progress  and  redemption  and  would  contribute  in 
some  humble  degree  to  the  bringing  in  of  that  long 
prophesied  era  when  the  blessed  doctrine  of  human  broth- 
erhood should  animate  all  hearts  and  bind  men  and 
nations  together  in  amity,  concord,  and  peace ;  when 
they  should  "beat  their  swords  into  ploughshares  and 
their  spears  into  pruniug-hooks  and  learn  war  no  more " ; 
and  when  God,  even  in  this  world,  should  be  "  all  and 
in  all." 

As  a  result  of  the  changed  conditions  and  circum- 
stances under  which  we  were  placed  at  Hoped  ale,  the 
enthusiasm  that  had  been  growing  among  us  for  a  year 
or  two  in  favor  of  colonization  rapidly  subsided,  and  the 
so-called  ' i  Western  Movement "  which  seemed  so  near  its 
culmination  in  the  establishment  of  a  branch  Community 
in  the  state  of  Minnesota  at  the  very  moment  of  the  fatal 
collapse,  was  postponed  forever.  If  anything  of  the  kind 
contemplated  should  be  undertaken  in  the  indefinite  future, 
as  I  still  believe,  it  will  be  substantially  a  new  experiment, 
wholly  independent  organically  of  that  at  Hopedale,  though 
it  would  undoubtedly  derive  some  important  lessons  for 
its  guidance  from  Hopedale's  experience  and  history, — 
from  its  failure  as  well  as  from  its  temporary  success. 
It  may  be  proper  to  state  that  our  brethren  who  went  out 
from  us  in  the  autumn  of  1855  and  who  through  divers 


296  THE   HOPEDALE   COMMUNITY. 

difficulties  and  disappointments  were  obliged  to  suspend 
their  labors  and  spend  the  succeeding  winter  at  Monticello, 
as  noted  a  few  pages  back,  resumed  them  again  at  the 
opening  of  the  spring.  They  soon  found  a  satisfactory 
locality  on  the  open  rolling  prairie  about  forty  miles  due 
west  from  Monticello,  some  eight  Hundred  acres  of  which 
they  immediately  took  measures  to  secure  under  the  U.  S. 
Preemption  Act,  and  proceeded  to  erect  dwellings  for  the 
shelter,  convenience,  and  comfort  of  themselves  and  their 
dependents.  These  they  completed  in  the  early  summer, 
when,  joined  by  the  other  members  of  their  households, 
they  re-established  their  home-life,  and  went  on  in  the 
discharge  of  those  duties  and  the  performance  of  those 
labors,  incident  to  pioneer  experience  in  that  then  almost 
wholly  uninhabited  region.  There  they  remained  but  a  few 
years,  one  of  the  number  dying  meanwhile,  when  they  left  — 
some  of  them  on  economic  grounds,  the  others  because 
driven  away  by  Indian  invasion  —  returning  to  the  East, 
and  taking  up  their  abode  once  more  in  the  old  Bay  State. 
They  christened  their  little  settlement  Union  G-rove,  from 
the  fact  that  their  habitations  stood  within  the  precincts 
of  a  sparsely  wooded  tract  of  land  which  skirted  one  end 
of  their  otherwise  unshaded  farms,  which  name  it  bears 
to  the  present  day.  It  constitutes  the  northwest  portion 
of  Meeker  County. 

It  is  needless  to  go  into  further  details  of  what  took 
place  within  our  borders  during  the  year  1856.  It  may 
be  readily  inferred  from  the  delineations  and  intimations 
contained  in  the  last  few  pages. 


CHAPTER  IX. 

1857-1876. 

DISMANTLED  CONDITION  —  INCREASING  PARALYSIS  —  IN  WAR 

TIME  —  RELIGIOUS  ASPECTS  —  THE  HOPEDALE 

PARISH  —  CONCLUSION. 

BEFORE  proceeding  to  sketch  the  last  act  of  the 
drama  which  this  volume  is  designed  to  present  to 
the  reader,  or,  in  other  words,  to  recall  and  record  the 
principal  features  of  that  process  of  deterioration  which 
terminated  at  length  in  the  utter  extinction  of  The 
Hopedale  Community,  it  seems  fitting  and  desirable  to 
set 'forth  the  exact  status  of  its  affairs  at  the  opening  of 
the  year  of  1857 —  to  show,  with  considerable  degree  of 
precision,  what  was  taken  away  from  its  original  powers, 
rights,  immunities  and  obligations  by  the  revolution  of 
the  previous  year,  and  what  was  left  as  an  equipment 
for  further  service  in  the  cause  of  Christian  Socialism. 
It  has  already  been  stated  that  thereby  the  enterprise 
had  cast  off  many  of  its  former  cardinal  characteristics 
and  become  a  merely  religious,  moral  reform,  and  mutual 
guaranty  society.  This  was  in  a  certain  way  and  in  a 
large  measure  true.  But  something  more  specific  and 
positive  is  requisite  to  a  clear  comprehension,  on  the 
part  of  the  average  reader,  of  the  condition  of  things 
with  us  at  that  date.  And  hence  a  few  paragraphs  at 
the  beginning  of  the  present  chapter  are  properly  devoted 
to  the  elucidation  of  the  matter. 

It   must   be   obvious    to   the   thoughtful   mind   that   the 
abandonment  of  the  united  proprietorship  of  the  Cornmu- 


298  THE   HOPEDALE   COMMUNITY. 

nity  capital,  including  lands,  buildings,  machinery,  money,, 
and  other  forms  of  real  and  movable  estate,  together  with 
the  surrender  of  the  supervision  and  management  of  its 
multiform  branches  of  industry  and  the  operations  they 
represented,  was  the  obliteration  of  one  of  the  most 
essential  and  distinguishing  features  of  our  movement, 
as  it  was  of  other  movements  of  that  period  contemplat- 
ing the  radical  reconstruction  of  the  existing  order  of 
human  society.  It  was  indeed  so.  The  great  watchwords 
of  all  Social  Reformers  then  before  the  world,  from 
Fourier  to  Robert  Owen,  were  "Co-operation,"  "  Com- 
bined Industry,"  "The  Harmonization  of  Capital  and 
Labor " ;  some  of  them  making  the  thing  these  terms 
stand  for  the  leading,  if  not  the  only,  object  and  end  of 
their  efforts.  With  us,  this  was  not  the  only  or  the  main 
desideratum,  and  yet  it  was  a  very  important  and  vital 
one  —  so  important  and  vital,  indeed,  that  when  it  was 
given  up  with  us  our  whole  structure  was  weakened  and 
imperilled  from  foundation  stone  to  topmost  spire.  Taken 
in  connection  with  other  things  that  went  with  it,  its 
relinquishmeut  was,  as  the  sequel  showed,  the  virtual 
overthrow  and  demolition  of  our  entire  system;  at  least 
the  precursor  and  occasion  of  such  overthrow  and  demo- 
lition in  those  respects  that  differentiated  it  from  the 
prevailing  civilization  of  the  world.  For  with  it  went 
the  control  over  residents  on  our  domain,  the  regulation 
of  trade  and  of  the  contraction  and  payment  of  debts, 
most  of  the  restrictions  upon  the  sale  and  uses  of  lands, 
the  Community  Post  Office,  Savings  Bank,  Fire  Insurance 
Company,  The  Industrial  Union,  Enactments  relating  to 
the  Employment  and  Supervision  of  Children,  etc.,  etc. 
In  all  these  things  the  Community,  as  such  and  in  its  gov- 
ernmental capacity,  was  rendered  practically  powerless. 
All  these  things,  which  had  cost  us  infinite  study,  labor, 
care,  and  which  constituted  some  of  the  most  salutary 
and  valuable  characteristics  of  our  undertaking,  were  gone,, 
and  gone  beyond  the  possibility  of  recovery. 


SAVED  FROM  THE  WRECK.  299 

On  the  other  hand,  what  had  we  saved?  What  was 
left  as  a  foundation  upon  which  to  build  anything  prom- 
ising and  durable  for  the  future?  What,  to  prize,  to 
conserve,  to  use,  as  agencies  or  working  forces  where- 
with to  promote  the  great  objects  for  which  we  had 
toiled  so  hard  and  sacrificed  so  much  in  the  past  —  for 
the  furtherance  of  which  we  still  felt  ourselves  bound  in 
conscience  and  in  fealty  to  our  Practical  Christian  prin- 
ciples to  labor  and  to  pray,  notwithstanding  our  disap- 
pointment and  discomfiture?  We  had 

1.  Our  organic  fraternity  and  pledged  fidelity  to  each 
other   and    to  our  common  cause.     A  few  of  our  associ- 
ates left  us  soon  after  the  great  change  took   place,  and 
the    number   increased  as   time  went   on,   but   yet   at   the 
date    named    there    had    been    but    few   withdrawals ;    the 
great   majority  remained,    a   loyal   band   of   brothers    and 
sisters,  animated  by  a  common  spirit  and  ambition,  cheiv 
ishiug  a  common  faith  and  hope,  and   seeking   by  united 
effort  the  attainment  for  ourselves  and  for  humanity  com- 
mon laudable  and  beneficent  ends. 

2.  Our  name  —  The  Hopedale  Community;   which  was 
very    dear    to    us    by   reason   of   the   circumstances  under 
which  we    first   assumed   it;    by  reason  of  what  it  repre- 
sented to  us  of  truth,  of  righteousness,  of  a  broad  world- 
wide humanity,  of  what  is  noblest  and  best  in  individual 
and  social  life ;    and  because  it  stood  in  our  thought  and 
affections  as  a  type  —  an  imperfect  one,  to  be  sure  —  and 
yet  a  type  of  the  kingdom  of  God. 

3.  Our    distinctive    ideas,    principles,    purposes,    and 
aims,  with   dependent   duties,  as    announced    and    avowed 
by  us   in   the   Preamble    and   Declaration  of   Article  I  of 
our    Constitution.      These    were    as    true,    as    sacred,    as 
obligatory  upon  us  as  when  we  first  acknowledged  them. 
By  the  change  that  had  taken  place  we  had  in  no  proper 
sense  disowned,  renounced,  or  abandoned  them.     We  still 
stood    by  them    and  were    still  bound  to  be  governed  by 


300  THE   HOPEDALE  COMMUNITY. 

them  in  all  the  interests  and  relations  of  life.  We  had 
only  given  up  certain  applications  of  them  to  certain 
economical  concerns,  holding  them  in  abeyance  for  the 
time  being  as  impracticable  in  such  applications  in  the 
present  moral  and  spiritual  stage  of  human  development. 

4.  Authority  and  control  over  certain  kinds  of   prop- 
erty that  were  retained    in  our   possession  when  the   bulk 
of   our   estate    passed   into   other  hands.     Of   these  there 
were  several  dwelling-houses,  the  School-house  and  Chapel, 
the   village    site,    the    public    squares    and    other   common 
lands,  our  Cemetery,   etc. 

5.  Our  religious  meetings  and  their  exclusive  manage- 
ment ;  the  care  of  all  our  means  and  appliances  for  moral 
and  spiritual  culture,  missionary  operations,  promulgatory 
agencies,  etc. 

6.  A  restricted  supervision  of  our  educational  interests 
and  institutions,  subject,  so  far  as  our  legally  established 
School  District  was  concerned,  to  the  management  of  the 
general  Committee  of   the  town  of   Milford.     All  instruc- 
tion   in    excess    of    that   provided    for   by   them,    and    all 
extra  apparatus,  appliances,  etc.,  were  in  our  own  hands. 

7.  Our   Community   Lyceum,  which    for   several   years 
was  an  important  educational   agency  among   our   people, 
with  its  lectures,  discussions,  recitations,  essays,  classes, 
and  other  activities,  established  and  maintained  by  Com- 
munity enactment,  and   provided    for   by  special   Commu- 
nity action  from  year  to  year.     Also  the  Public  Library, 
already  well  established    and    supplied  with    six    or   eight 
hundred  volumes  of  well  chosen  books,  representing  every 
department  of  literature  and  a  wide  field  of  knowledge. 

8.  Our    general    Constitutional    Guaranty    against    the 
•evils    of    poverty,    which    made   us    organically    a   Mutual 
Aid    Society    for    the    help    of    one    another,    pecuniarily 
or   otherwise,  in   times   of   misfortune,   need,   or   distress. 
Eor  the  proper  fulfillment  of  this  Guaranty  a  Relief  Com- 
mittee was  chosen  from  year  to  year,  and  money  was  ap- 


PERPLEXED   BUT  NOT   IN   DESPAIR.  301 

propriated  and  placed  in  their  hands,  to  be  used  as  their 
wisdom  and  sympathy  should  direct. 

9.  Certain  funds,  coming  to  us  by  donation  or  bequest 
and  held  in  trust  for  the  promotion  of  definitely  specified 
objects ;    said  trust  to  be  honestly  administered   and  hon- 
orably discharged  according  to  the  best  of   our  judgment 
and  ability. 

10.  Our  reputation,  which,  by  fair  dealing,  regard  for 
the  rights  and  welfare  of  our  fellowmen,  interest  in  good 
causes,  promptness  and  cheerfulness  in  meeting  our  obli- 
gations, and   an  exemplification  in  good  degree  of  manly 
and   womanly   worth,    secured    us    the    confidence    of    the 
public  and  a  host  of    faithful  devoted  friends  through^  all 
the  exigencies,  transmutations,  and  diversified  fortunes  of 
our  checkered  and  finally  disastrous  career. 

Such,  in  detail,  was  what  was  left  to  us  and  for  us 
as  a  Community  after  the  crisis  of  1856  ;  what  was  saved 
from  the  wreck  of  our  ill-fated  bark,  which  had  been 
laden  with  most  precious  freightage,  launched  amid  great 
hope  and  rejoicing,  and  been  borne  bravely  along  upon  a 
now  prosperous  and  now  adverse  tide  for  fourteen  eventful 
years,  only  to  founder  at  last  on  the  shallows  of  worldly 
ambition  and  desire.  In  view  of  this  condition  of  things  — 
in  view  of  what  remained  of  our  former  possessions, 
and  of  the  opportunity  still  open  to  us  at  home  and 
abroad  for  effective  service  of  God  and  men,  wre  all,  with 
few  exceptions,  resolved  to  stand  by  each  other  and  by 
our  unfortunate  experiment,  making  the  most  and  the 
best  of  what  we  had  at  our  command,  and  using  it,  as 
Providence  should  direct  us,  for  our  own  and  each  other's 
good  and  for  the  good  of  the  world.  4t  We  were  per- 
plexed, but  not  in  despair";  "  cast  down,  but  not  de- 
stroyed." Our  Vice-President,  Bro.  Wm.  S.  Heywood, 
who,  in  place  of  the  President,  made  an  address  at  the 
Annual  Meeting  held  Jan.  14,  1857,  voiced  the  general 
feeling  of  his  associates  and  awakened  a  ready  response 


302  THE   HOPEDALE   COMMUNITY. 

in  all  their  hearts,  when,  after  recapitulating  the  blessings 
we  still  enjoyed  and  the  means  of  uplifting  and  benefiting 
our  fellowmeu  still  at  our  command,  he  concluded  his 
counsels  and  exhortations  as  follows : 

"Is  it  not  certain  that  whatever  is  lovely  and  of  good 
report  among  us,  whatever  is  wise  and  advantageous,  whatever 
is  beneficent  and  salutary,  can  be  sustained  and  perpetuated 
altogether  better  by  union,  by  mutual  co-operation,  by  the 
maintenance  of  our  organization,  than  in  any  other  way?  In 
my  judgment,  if  our  organic  connection,  the  bond  that  unites 
us  in  Community  relationship,  be  given  up,  all  is  sooner  or 
later  gone;  while,  by  continuing  it  and  being  faithful  to  its 
obligations,  we  shall  accomplish  much  for  ourselves,  for  each 
other,  and  for  the  world  in  the  way  of  preserving  the  things 
that  are  desirable  and  good,  and  do  it  far  more  freely,  effect- 
ually, heartily,  and  happily,  than  could  be  done  in  any  other 
way. 

"In  conclusion,  then,  I  would  most  earnestly  call  upon  you 
who  still  love  our  great  and  good  cause,  who  still  reverence 
the  everlasting  principles  which  it  embodies,  to  stand  by  each 
other,  and  co-operate  cheerfully  and  unitedly  for  the  promo- 
tion of  our  declared  objects,  here  and  in  the  world.  Failing  in 
certain  things,  we  have  not  lost  all.  What  we  need  is  a 
quickened  sense  of  our  individual  and  social  obligations  —  the 
mind  and  the  heart  to  do.  With  a  united  purpose,  a  deter- 
mined resolution,  and  a  reliant  faith,  we  can  realize  to  our- 
selves and  to  each  other  much  of  divine  good,  and  make  our 
Community  still  a  light  to  them  that  sit  in  darkness.  Shall 
it  be  done?  God  still  lives;  there  is  to  us  all  the  same 
inspiring  presence  as  of  yore;  the  loving  angels  bend  down 
yet  to  bless  us;  our  aspirations  for  a  better  state  continue 
quick  within  us;  the  eternal  truth  is  even  now  held  out  to 
us;  humanity,  as  in  days  that  are  past,  cries  for  help  and 
salvation  with  her  ten  times  ten  thousand  voices;  the  cause  of 
Non-resistance,  almost  abandoned  by  her  professed  friends, 
urges  us  to  renewed  effort  and  to  faithful  service.  In  the 
name  of  all  these  I  exhort  you  to  a  revival  of  hope,  to  union, 
to  vigorous,  manly,  Christian  exertion,  to  self-sacrificing  fidelity 
in  the  work  of  Practical  Christian  Socialism.  In  their  name 
I  pledge  my  influence,  my  means,  myself,  anew  to  you,  to  the 


WORDS   OF   ENCOURAGEMENT.  303 

Community,  to  our  common  cause.  Let  no  mistakes  entirely 
overcome  us;  let  no  disappointment  drive  us  to  despair;  let 
no  failures  make  us  apostates;  but,  rising  above  all  these,  may 
we  still  do  our  duty,  still  cherish  our  sublime  faith  and  hope, 
which  are  to  us  an  earnest  of  the  blessed  era  when  "the 
kingdoms  of  this  world  shall  have  become  the  kingdom  of 
our  Lord  Jesus  Christ." 

In  much  the  same  strain  and  to  the  same  general 
effect  did  I  myself  write  a  few  weeks  afterward,  and 
publish  in  our  organ,  the  brief  article  which  follows, 
under  the  caption,  "Our  Cause —  What  Is  It?" 

"Do  any  ask  what  is  proposed  to  be  done?  I  answer,  to 
establish  the  Practical  Christian  Republic  —  at  least  to  prepare 
the  way  for  its  establishment.  Friends  and  fellow-laborers, 
calmly  re-examine  its  objects,  principles,  polity.  What  noble 
aspiration  of  the  immortal  spirit  does  it  not  encourage !  What 
grand  truth  does  it  not  recognize!  What  cardinal  duty  does 
it  not  magnify !  What  needed  reform  does  it  not  include 
and  urge!  What  fundamental  idea  or  measure  of  human 
regeneration  does  it  not  embrace!  Shall  we  abandon  it? 
Where  are  we  to  look  for  anything  better  —  anything  half  so 
worthy  of  our  undying  devotion?  To  what  sect  or  anti-sect 
in  religion  shall  we  go?  To  what  party  or  anti-party  in  poli- 
tics? To  what  progressive,  reformatory,  or  socialistic  enter- 
prise in  the  wide  world?  Wrhere  can  we  find  higher  aims, 
diviner  principles,  or  a  wiser  polity?  We  can  find  fragments 
of  wisdom  and  goodness  in  all  sects,  parties,  societies,  and 
coteries;  but  where  else  so  much  of  truth  and  good  mixed 
with  so  little  evil  and  falsity. 

"  What  if  we  cannot  at  present  organize  the  higher  kind 
of  Communities!  Are  not  Rural  and  especially  Parochial 
Communities  practicable?  What  if  we  cannot  do  much  toward 
founding  and  multiplying  even  these?  We  can  at  least  hold 
fast  what  we  have  already  gained;  we  can  foster  true  educa- 
tion; we  can  elevate  individuals  and  families;  we  can  discipline 
and  purify  our  membership;  we  can  be  making  new  converts 
and  steadily  enlighten  the  public  mind.  All  this  must  be 
done  in  order  to  ultimate  success.  It  is  our  duty  and 
privilege  to  labor  faithfully  in  these  ways;  which,  if  done,  the 


OF  THB 

•:/NIVERSITT 


304  THE   HOPEDALE   COMMUNITY. 

stones  and  cedars  will  have  been  prepared  for  a  glorious  Social 
Temple  that  will  at  length  rise  in  symmetrical  majesty  'with- 
out the  sound  of  axe,  hammer,  or  any  tool  of  iron.'  " 

With  such  words  as  these  did  I  and  my  ministerial 
brethren  strive  to  cheer  the  hearts  and  keep  alive  the 
faith  and  stimulate  the  fidelity  and  zeal  of  our  fellow- 
associates,  prompted  by  the  earnest  desire  to  preserve,  as 
far  as  possible,  whatever  of  good  pertaining  to  the  Com- 
munity we  had  at  our  command,  and  by  the  lingering 
hope  that  such  good  might  be  used,  as  a  means  or  motive 
for  renewing  at  some  uot-far-distant  day  the  struggle  for 
a  lost  cause ;  or  as  a  basis  for  a  new  enterprise  in  some 
more  favorable  locality  and  under  circumstances  that 
would  give  us  greater  promise  of  success.  But  no  efforts 
in  that  behalf  seemed  to  be  of  any  permanent  value  or 
practical  use.  The  decree  seemed  to  have  gone  forth  that 
I  and  my  generation  should  never  enter  the  promised  land; 
our  eyes  being  merely  privileged  to  look  upon  it  from  the 
mount  Nebo  of  faith  as  it  lay  outspread  in  the  dim  dis- 
tance beyond  Jordan.  For,  do  what  we  could  to  stay  its 
progress,  the  work  of  disintegration  and  spoliation  went 
on  around  us  as  the  years  swept  by  —  one  stone  after 
another  of  our  social  structure  being  thrown  down  until 
now  scarcely  one  is  left  resting  upon  another  —  the  last 
vestige  almost  of  what  was  once  so  beautiful  and  fail- 
having  either  been  carried  away  or  defaced  beyond  recog- 
nition. 

The  remaining  portion  of  this  History,  which  is  the 
narrative  of  the  Community  in  its  dismantled  condition, 
shorn  of  many  of  its  most  prominent  and  praiseworthy 
features  —  shorn  too  of  much  of  its  power  for  good  both 
at  home  and  abroad  —  of  the  Community  in  its  "decline 
and  fall,"  requires  but  little  attention  to  details  or  to  the 
regular  methodical  flow  of  its  outgoing  but  never- returning 
tide.  It  might  perhaps  have  been  brought  to  a  close 
with  a  recital  of  the  incidents  and  resultants  of  the  crisis 


COMMUNITY   ORGANIZATION   CONTINUED.  305 

of  1856,  since  that  was  virtually  and  practically  the  end 
of  its  existence  as  au  experiment  in  the  science  of  a 
divine  order  of  society,  or  an  attempt  to  actualize  in  an 
organic  form  the  kingdom  of  God  on  the  earth.  But 
certain  things  transpired  in  its  subsequent  career  which 
in  my  judgment  possess  moral  and  spiritual  value  of  their 
own  and  are  calculated  to  throw  some  additional  light 
upon  the  great  problem  we  endeavored  to  solve.  Even 
in  its  decline  and  disappearance  from  the  face  of  the 
earth,  the  Community  had  some  important  lessons  for 
individual  souls  and  for  students  of  the  great  questions 
that  relate  to  the  progress  of  the  race  and  to  the  final 
enfranchisement  and  harmonization  of  the  world.  What 
is  to  follow  will  be  presented  topically  rather  than  chrono- 
logically, as  a  matter  of  convenience  and  as  serving 
equally  well  the  ends  just  indicated  and  the  general  pur- 
poses of  historical  literature. 

Membership.  The  membership  of  the  Community  was 
at  about  its  maximum  when  the  change  of  1856  was 
made,  numbering  some  one  hundred  and  ten  persons. 
But  for  obvious  reasons  it  at  once  began  to  decrease, 
the  process  of  disintegration  and  excision  going  on  by 
slow  degrees  until  at  the  expiration  of  a  dozen  years 
scarcely  more  than  forty  remained,  of  whom  not  more 
than  half  were  residents  of  Hopedale.  The  organization 
was  preserved  intact  for  that  period,  and  such  common 
interests  and  responsibilities  as  it  represented  were  care- 
fully and  systematically  guarded  and  provided  for  by  those 
of  our  number  who  continued  to  dwell  on  the  original 
Community  domain.  In  process  of  time,  however,  the 
last  hour  of  organic  existence  came  to  the  body,  and 
membership  in  it  ceased  forever. 

Business  Meetings,  Official  Servants,  etc.     Annual  Meet- 
ings of  the  Community  were  held  regularly  on  the  second 
Wednesday  of   January  from   year  to   year  until  the  8th 
of  that  month,  1868,  when  the  last  one  on  record  occurred. 
20 


306  THE   HOPEDALE   COMMUNITY. 

Others  also  took  place  occasionally  for  several  years,  for 
the  transaction  of  such  special  business  as  required  atten- 
tion. At  the  former,  reports  from  the  several  Boards 
of  Officers  —  the  Directory,  Treasurer,  Council,  Board  of 
Education,  Relief  Committee,  and  Promulgation  Commit- 
tee—  were  presented,  considered,  and  acted  upon,  in  due 
order.  Official  servants  were  also  elected  for  the  ensuing 
year  and  business  matters  of  interest  and  importance 
were  formally  introduced,  discussed,  and  settled.  Of 
these  nothing  requires  notice  in  this  connection,  and  only 
the  more  prominent  officers  elected  subsequently  to  1856 
need  be  enumerated.  E.  D.  Draper  remained  in  the 
Presidency  till  Nov.  14,  1859,  when  he  resigned  and  was 
succeeded  by  Wm.  S.  Hey  wood,  who  held  the  position 
till  1863,  declining  re-election  at  that  date  as  he  was 
making  arrangements  for  removing  from  the  village.  Wm. 
H.  Humphrey  was  chosen  in  his  stead,  and  served  by 
successive  re-elections  to  the  end.  The  Vice-Presidents 
in  their  order  were  Wm.  S.  Heywood,  from  1856  to 
1859;  Wm.  H.  Humphrey,  from  1860  to  1863;  and 
Wm.  W.  Cook,  from  1863  to  1868.  The  Recorders  were 
Cyrus  Bradbury  till  1863  and  J.  Lowell  Heywood  thence- 
forth. Cyrus  Bradbury  was  Treasurer  after  the  retire- 
ment of  Lemuel  Munyan  in  1856  until  the  office  was 
rendered  needless  and  abandoned.  The  original  Real 
Estate  Trustees,  appointed  May  1,  1850,  were  Adin 
Ballon,  Ebenezer  D.  Draper,  Wm.  H.  Humphrey,  Butler 
Wilmarth,  and  Almon  Thwing.  The  first  three  continued 
in  office  to  the  last.  In  1853  Stephen  Albee  took  the 
place  of  Butler  Wilmarth,  deceased,  and  was  succeeded, 
upon  his  resignation  in  1858,  by  J.  Lowell  Heywood. 
Almon  Thwing  relinquished  his  place  on  the  Board  in 
1861,  and  the  vacancy  was  filled  by  Jerome  Wilmarth. 
A  few  years  later  the  last  two  removed  to  other  locali- 
ties, the  remaining  three,  who  had  been  on  the  Board 
from  the  beginning  and  who  constituted  a  legal  majority, 


DISPOSAL   OF   LANDED   PROPERTY.  307 

discharging   the   required   duties  of   the  office  as  long  as 
there  were  such  duties  to  discharge. 

Landed  Property,  Buildings,  etc.  At  the  time  of  the 
dissolution  of  the  Joint-Stock  Proprietorship  in  March, 
1856,  and  the  consequent  settlement  of  affairs  pertaining 
thereto,  nearly  the  entire  bulk  of  our  Real  Estate  posses- 
sions, including  lands,  mill-sites,  streets,  shops,  barns, 
and  other  buildings,  was  transferred  by  legal  conveyance  to 
the  firm  of  E.  D.  &  Gr.  Draper,  for  their  sole  use,  behoof, 
.and  disposal  forever.  The  Community,  however,  retained 
the  ownership  of  several  parcels  of  similar  property,  as 
before  stated,  the  aggregate  appraisal  of  which  was  about 
$10,000.  It  consisted  of  three  dwelling-houses  and  the 
lots  on  which  they  stood,  the  School-house  and  Chapel,- 
the  village  site.  Community  Square  (so  called),  and  the 
Hopedale  Cemetery.  The  dwelling-houses  were  not  long 
after  disposed  of  to  individual  purchasers,  the  School- 
house  and  lot  (the  use  of  the  building  as  a  place  of 
worship  having  been  relinquished)  to  the  town  of  Milford 
at  a  later  date,  and  the  village  site  was  in  process  of 
time  surrendered  to  the  proper  authorities  of  the  resident 
population.  The  final  act  of  transfer  was  executed  on 
the  15th  of  December,  1873,  when  the  Trustees  of  the 
Community  conveyed  to  the  Trustees  of  the  Hopedale 
Parish,  a  religious  body  formed  a  few  years  before,  "  all 
right,  title,  interest  and  control  in,  unto  and  over  Com- 
munity Square,  the  Meeting-house  standing  thereon  and 
the  Hopedale  Cemetery."  This  transaction  virtually  con- 
cluded the  real-estate  operations  of  the  Community  and 
cancelled  the  last  claim  it  had  upon  that  once  widely 
extended  domain,  which,  more  than  thirty  years  before, 
we,  in  devout  thanksgiving  to  the  giver  of  all  good  and 
with  abounding  faith  and  hope,  consecrated  to  God  and 
humanity. 

The  Practical  Christian.     The  publication  of  this  semi- 
monthly   sheet,    which    commenced    May    1,     1840,    was 


308  THE   HOPEDALE   COMMUNITY. 

continued  with  varying  fortunes  and  to  little  pecuniary 
advantage  through  manifold  vicissitudes  for  twenty  years, 
or  until  May  1,  1860.  I  had  always  been  its  leading 
editor,  though  receiving  substantial  assistance  from  my 
clerical  brethren  at  home,  and  from  valued  contributors 
and  correspondents  abroad.  From  an  early  date  it  had 
been  printed  at  our  own  Community  printing  office,  which,, 
for  my  special  convenience,  was  attached  to  my  own  little- 
cottage  at  the  corner  of  Main  and  Peace  Streets.  For 
some  years  its  business  interests  were  cared  for  by  Asapb 
G.  Spalding  and  Wm.  S.  Heywood  successively  as  Pub- 
lishing Agents ;  the  latter  holding  that  position  at  the 
time  of  the  great  change  and  through  the  then  current 
and  succeeding  volume.  But  on  the  1st  of  May,  1857,, 
I,  by  definite  arrangement  with  the  Community,  became 
sole  proprietor  and  manager  of  all  its  interests  and  virtu- 
ally the  sole  occupant  of  its  editorial  columns,  except  as 
I  still  welcomed  to  them  acceptable  articles  from  corre- 
spondents, of  which  there  were  not  a  few,  especially  at 
at  the  time  of  the  "John  Brown  Raid"  and  subsequently 
thereto.  With  the  decadence  of  the  Community  and  the 
waning,  at  home  and  abroad,  of  interest  in  or  care  for 
the  principles  and  objects  to  the  furtherance  of  which  the 
paper  had  always  been  devoted,  there  was  a  correspond- 
ingly diminishing  inducement  to  continue  its  issue.  The 
growing  unrest  of  the  country  touching  the  great  question 
of  American  Slavery,  which  was  already  assuming  most 
menacing  forms,  and  the  concentration  of  the  thoughts 
and  energies  of  the  people  at  large  upon  the  impending 
crisis  in  national  affairs,  attended  by  an  intensified 
arousal  in  all  directions  of  the  war  spirit,  to  whose 
unhallowed  sway  many  professed  Non-resistants  seemed 
to  be  giving  way.  led  me  to  see  that  there  must  be  a 
decided  falling  off  from  the  subscription  list  at  an  early 
day  and  an  utter  failure  thereby  of  pecuniary  support ;  — 
led  me  to  see  furthermore  that  the  ideas  and  principles 


THE    PRACTICAL    CHRISTIAN.  309 

which  it  was  commissioned  to  disseminate  among  men, 
though  constituting  the  very  essence  of  the  Gospel  of 
Christ,  were  likely  to  become  ere  long  the  scoff  and  the 
scorn  of  men  and  to  fail  of  a  hearing  even  among  the 
great  masses  of  the  people,  and  that  consequently  the 
continued  publication  of  the  Christian  was  largely  a  work 
of  supererogation,  and  therefore,  all  things  considered, 
inadvisable.  Moreover,  it  appeared  to  me  that  whatever 
was  demanded  or  warranted  in  the  way  of  disseminating 
the  truth  we  stood  for  could  be  accomplished  satisfactorily 
through  the  agency  of  occasional  tracts,  which  would 
impose  but  a  light  burden  upon  us,  and  one  that  could 
be  assumed  or  laid  aside  at  pleasure.  So,  after  thor- 
oughly canvassing  the  whole  matter  and  coming  to  an 
intelligent  conclusion  concerning  it,  I  recommended  the 
discontinuance  of  the  paper  at  the  close  of  the  20th  vol- 
ume and  the  formation  of  a  Promulgation  Society,  the 
work  of  which  should  be  the  preparation,  printing,  and 
•distribution  of  such  treatises,  essays,  dissertations,  exposi- 
tions, lectures,  and  sermons,  in  the  form  of  leaflets  and 
pamphlets,  as  might  at  any  time  be  deemed  needful 
or  desirable.  My  recommendation  was  accepted  by  the 
brethren  upon  whom  I  had  relied  for  financial  support, 
the  suggested  Promulgation  Society  was  organized,  and 
The  Practical  Christian  became  a  thing  of  the  past  with 
No.  26,  Vol.  XX,  April  14,  1860. 

The  suspension  of  the  paper,  which  was  born  out  of 
an  overmastering  love  for  the  truth  and  for  humanity  on 
the  part  of  myself  and  my  brethren,  gave  me  not  a  littte 
pain,  and  was  an  occasion  of  regret  to  a  large  number 
of  subscribers,  personal  friends,  and  friends  of  radical 
reform  scattered  up  and  down  the  land.  Many  letters 
were  received  from  these,  expressing  a  grateful  apprecia- 
tion of  the  high  character  and  salutary  influence  which 
the  periodical  had  maintained,  with  sentiments  of  sincere 
esteem  for  the  editor.  The  press  also,  especially  the 


310  THE   HOPEDALE   COMMUNITY. 

progressive  journals,  philanthropic  and  religious,  added 
testimonials  equally  kind  and  commendatory.  To  one  of 
these,  from  the  pen  of  Rev.  Thomas  Whittemore,  D.  D., 
editor  of  The  Trumpet  and  Universalist  Magazine  —  a 
redoubtable  dialectician  and  former  antagonist  of  mine  in 
the  Restorationist  controversy, — was  appended  the  follow- 
ing encomium  upon  our  movement  and  its  representatives  : 

"One  word  as  to  the  Hopedale  Community.  So  far  as  we 
know  they  are  a  band  of  brothers  and  sisters  who  seek  to 
honor  God  by  good  lives.  They  are  good  citizens:  they  live 
quietly  and  peaceably,  and  the  Lord  blesses  them.  Often  when 
we  have  been  in  Milford,  we  have  desired  to  visit  their  houses, 
but  we  felt  (perhaps  more  than  we  ought)  that  in  their  sight 
we  were  a  heretic,  and  they  would  not  receive  us.  Never 
have  we  had  an  unkind  word  from  them,  however.  Perhaps 
it  was  a  mere  suspicion  on  our  part.  We  will  yet  go  to 
Hopedale.  We  should  love  to  live  where  Practical  Christianity 
reigns." 

In  War  Times.  The  position  of  the  Hopedale  Com- 
munity as  the  great  War  of  the  Rebellion  came  rushing 
on  and  during  its  continuance,  was  unique  and  trying  — 
crucial  even,  to  the  utmost  extent.  We  were  tested  by 
it  as  to  our  faith  as  never  before,  and  some  of  us  were 
found  wanting.  From  the  beginning  we  had  been  avowed, 
uncompromising  Abolitionists,  doing  what  we  could  to 
overthrow  the  system  of  American  Slavery  and  hailing 
with  gratitude  and  joy  every  indication  that  the  day  was 
drawing  near  when  the  last  shackle  should  be  riven  from 
the  limbs  of  the  bondmen  and  when  4 '  liberty  should  be 
proclaimed  throughout  all  the  land  to  all  the  inhabitants 
thereof."  We  had  hoped  and  prayed  that  this  great 
consummation  might  be  reached  by  peaceable  means  and 
without  violence  and  war,  by  the  proclamation  of  the 
principles  of  freedom  and  equity,  and  the  consequent 
enlightenment  of  the  understanding  and  awakening  of  the 
conscience  of  the  people.  But  as  time  passed  on  and 


INCREASING   NATIONAL   DISTURBANCE.  311 

the  auimus  of  the  slave  power  became  more  and  more 
rampant  and  diabolic,  we  were  gradually  brought  to  the 
conviction  that  this  could  not  be ;  that  the  only  way  the 
gigantic  iniquity  would  ever  be  brought  to  an  end  was  by 
the  effusion  of  blood  —  by  the  avenging  judgment  rather 
than  the  tender  mercy  of  Almighty  God.  The  nation  had 
sinned  away  its  day  of  grace.  Its  crime  and  guilt  had 
become  too  virulent,  too  deep-seated,  too  much  a  part  of 
its  very  life,  to  be  expiated  and  put  away  except  by 
commotions  and  upheavals  involving  immense  sacrifice  of 
men  and  treasure,  and  imperiling,  in  fact,  the  very  exist- 
ence of  the  Republic. 

Even  under  these  circumstances  and  with  such  a  pros- 
pect before  us,  we  could  but  rejoice  in  what  we  felt 
assured  would  be  the  outcome  of  the  increasing  disturb- 
ance —  Emancipation  —  though  it  was  to  be  accomplished 
by  means  which  we  could  not  in  conscience  approve  and 
through  agencies  against  which  we  were  pledged  by  the 
most  sacred  of  vows.  Yet  it  was  not  without  more  or 
less  of  apprehension  and  solicitude  that  we  watched  the 
gathering  storm  and  awaited  the  unfolding  of  events 
whose  progress  we  had  no  power  to  withstand  or  direct. 
We  could  do  little  more  than  keep  silence  and  possess 
our  souls  in  patience,  trusting  that  He  who  hath  all  des- 
tinies in  His  keeping,  who  bringeth  light  out  of  darkness 
and  good  out  of  evil,  would  overrule  the  threatened  clash 
of  arms  to  the  ultimate  deliverance  of  the  oppressed  and 
to  the  honor  of  His  most  holy  name. 

The  question  of  American  Slavery,  which,  in  its  primary 
and  most  radical  aspects  was  of  a  moral  and  religious 
character,  had  for  years  obtruded  itself  into  the  political 
arena  and  affected  to  a  continually  increasing  extent  the 
organization  and  the  policy  of  all  political  parties.  With 
the  growing  aggressions  of  the  Slave  Power  the  agitation 
of  it  had  increased  in  strength  and  in  determination,  until 
the  time  had  come  when  the  opposing  forces  were  taking 


312  THE   HOPEDALE   COMMUNITY. 

011  a  distinctively  belligerent  aspect  and  assuming  a 
decidedly  warlike  attitude.  The  ill-advised  raid  of  John 
Brown  served  to  intensify  the  existing  feeling  in  that 
respect,  inflaming  the  war-spirit  in  all  directions,  and 
hastening  the  bloody  outbreak,  which,  under  any  circum- 
stances, could  not  long  have  been  held  in  check.  One 
after  another  of  the  old  line  Abolitionists  seemed  to  be 
carried  away  from  their  moorings  by  the  growing  excite- 
ment, either  renouncing  outright  their  long  professed  Non- 
resistant  principles  or  holding  them  in  abeyance  to  such 
an  extent  as  to  enable  them  to  eulogize  and  glorify  the 
promoters  of  bloodshed  and  slaughter,  and  even  the  war 
system  itself  when  employed  for  the  emancipation  of  the 
slave.  I  was  myself  impelled  to  raise  my  voice  in  protest 
against  and  condemnation  of  such  action  on  the  part  of 
my  old  friends  and  coadjutors,  deeming  it  a  violation  of 
plighted  faith  and  a  practical  adoption  of  the  so-called 
Jesuitical  maxim,  "  The  end  sanctifies  the  means."  Never- 
theless, the  tide  was  against  me,  not  only  in  the  world 
at  large  but  among  Anti-Slavery  Reformers,  including 
some  of  my  Hopedale  brethren,  and  my  favorite  doctrine 
of  Non-resistance,  with  its  scruples  against  voting  "in 
any  case  involving  a  final  authorized  resort  to  physical 
violence,"  was  almost  wholly  swept  away  and  submerged 
by  the  rising  tide  of  brutality  and  blood.  So  that  when 
the  insane  wrath  of  slave-holding  secessionists  lighted  the 
flames  of  rebellion  on  Carolina's  soil  and  4 '  let  slip  the 
dogs  of  war  "  against  the  Federal  Government,  and  the  cry 
of  military  patriotism  went  through  all  the  land  calling 
men  to  arms  in  the  support  of  the  Union,  several  of 
our  members,  struck  by  the  fell  contagion,  resigned  their 
positions  in  our  fellowship,  thus  honorably  relieving  them- 
selves of  their  former  acknowledged  obligations  4 '  never 
under  any  pretext  whatsoever  to  kill,  assault  or  injure 
any  human  being,  even  their  worst  enemy,"  and  also  of 
the  inconsistency  of  professing  principles  which  they 


POSITION   OF   THE   COMMUNITY.  313 

deemed  impracticable  and  of   no  account  in  the   existing 
crisis. 

What  now,  in  such  a  crisis,  could  the  still  adhering 
Community  members  do, —  those  who  were  still  loyal  to 
the  Declaration  which  was  the  corner-stone  of  their 
structure  and  the  summary  of  their  religious  faith? 
Their  movement  was  wrecked  —  at  least  stranded  on  the 
shallows  of  time's  outstretching  sea  —  and  mid  the  thick- 
ening gloom  they  could  see  little  to  hope  for  in  its  behalf 
within  the  sweep  of  their  vision.  They  could  scarcely 
keep  their  standing  as  the  tempest  raged  around.  Their 
only  safety  consisted  in  being  true  to  their  principles  and 
true  to  each  other,  bearing  aloft  the  white  banner  of 
' '  Peace  and  Good  Will "  while  battle-flags  were  fluttering 
011  every  hand,  and  pledging  themselves  anew  to  each 
other  and  to  the  cause  which  they  had  in  good  conscience 
espoused,  not  for  the  passing  hour  or  for  peaceable  and 
prosperous  times  alone,  but  for  life.  And  so  to  keep 
their  own  record  clean  and  their  escutcheon  immaculate ; 
to  bear  a  united  testimony  for  their  avowed  principles  to 
their  fellowmeu,  and  protect  themselves  against  any  charge 
of  treason  to  their  native  laud  or  of  indifference  to  its 
enduring  welfare ;  to  make  known  in  unmistakable  terms 
their  utter  abhorrence  of  the  Rebellion  and  of  any  and 
every  measure,  open  or  covert,  North  or  South,  which 
was  seeking  by  force  and  arms  to  undermine  and  over- 
throw the  Federal  Government;  and  to  have  their  exact 
position  in  respect  to  the  suppression  of  the  Rebellion, 
as  was  attempted  on  the  part  of  said  Government,  duly 
understood,  the  faithful  remnant  of  our  number,  in  regular 
meeting  assembled  on  the  16th  of  Sept.,  1861,  passed  a 
series  of  resolutions,  seven  in  number,  the  first,  second, 
and  last  of  which,  with  the  preamble,  contain  the  gist 
of  the  whole  and  hence  are  given  herein  entire,  to  the 
exclusion  of  the  others. 


314  THE   HOPEDALE   COMMUNITY. 

"  DECLARATORY  RESOLUTIONS. 

"  Whereas,  a  great  and  deplorable  civil  war  has  broken  out 
between  the  Northern  and  Southern  sections  of  the  United 
States  of  America,  the  people  of  the  latter  being  in  organized 
revolutionary  insurrection  against  the  constitutional  govern- 
ment of  the  Federal  Union;  and,  whereas,  we,  the  members 
of  The  Hopedale  Community,  are  peaceable  subjects  of  said 
constitutional  government,  though  for  reasons  of  conscience 
not  active  participants  therein,  nor  martial  combatants  in 
any  behalf;  and,  whereas,  in  the  present  momentous  crisis 
our  peculiar  principles  and  position  ought  to  be  distinctly 
understood;  therefore  we  the  members  of  said  Community,  in 
regular  meeting  assembled,  do  adopt  and  publish  the  following 
Resolutions,  viz.: 

"  1.  Resolved,  That  we  unanimously  adhere  with  unwavering 
firmness  to  our  fundamental  religious  principles  as  originally 
set  forth  by  solemn  Declaration  in  the  year  1841  in  the  pub 
lished  Constitution  of  our  Community,  and  as  again  set  forth 
with  some  enlargement  by  a  like  solemn  Declaration  in  the 
year  1854  in  the  published  Constitution  of  The  Practical 
Christian  Republic,  whereof  we  are  also  members. 

"  2.  Resolved,  That  we  unanimously  adhere  with  unwavering 
firmness  to  the  declared  fundamental  objects,  positions,  and 
policy  set  forth  in  the  two  said  Constitutions,  and  especially 
in  respect  to  the  governments  under  which  we  live  as  peace- 
able subjects  thereof  yet  non-participants  therein,  being 
conscientiously  scrupulous  against  all  chattel  slavery,  death 
penalties,  injurious  force,  war,  and  dernier  resorts  to  carnal 
weapons. 

******* 

"  7.  Resolved,  That  in  the  light  of  the  foregoing  Resolutions 
our  first  and  highest  allegiance  is  due  to  the  sovereignty  of 
divine  principles  as  taught  by  Jesus  Christ: 

"  That  our  first  and  highest  attachment  must  be  to  the 
glorious  white  banner  of  His  kingdom,  with  the  cross  of  self- 
sacrifice  in  the  center,  radiating  a  benignant  halo  in  all  direc- 
tions, with  a  dove  surmounting  that  cross,  spreading  her  wings 
and  bearing  in  her  mouth  an  olive  branch,  and  with  a  wolf 
and  a  lamb  at  its  foot  harmlessly  resting  together: 


DECLARATORY   RESOLUTIONS.  315- 

"That  we  cannot  aid  the  best  existing  government  on  earth 
in  destroying  human  life  though  our  refusal  should  subject  us 
to  the  bitterest  martyrdom: 

"That  we  are  bound  by  our  religious  principles  to  be 
orderly,  peaceable  subjects  of  the  governments  under  which  we 
live,  and  to  relieve  the  sufferings  of  our  fellow-creatures  around 
us  to  the  utmost  extent  of  a  reasonable  charity: 

"That  we  can  neither  excite  nor  encourage  any  mob,  riot, 
rebellion,  insurrection  or  war-like  revolution  even  for  an 
ostensibly  good  object  —  much  less  such  an  abhorent  insurrec- 
tion as  the  one  now  raging  at  the  South  for  the  extension 
and  perpetuation  of  human  slavery: 

"  That  while  we  deeply  deplore  the  war  itself  now  in  pro- 
cess, we  deplore  still  more  the  sinful  causes  which  have  ren- 
dered this  great  calamity  inevitable  under  the  eternal  laws  of 
divine  order,  as  a  just  retribution  for  national  transgressions, 
to  wit:  lust  of  wealth,  lust  of  power,  and  lust  of  sensual 
pleasures,  all  culminating  in  the  persistent  upholding,  by  law 
and  by  force,  of  the  gigantic  institution  of  Africo-chattel 
slavery : 

"That  though  we  have  no  moral  sympathy  whatever  with 
the  insurrectionists,  but  much  with  the  Federal  Government 
and  its  loyal  adherents,  and  though  we  see  that  the  loyalists 
on  their  own  worldly  plane  of  action  must  conquer  the  rebels 
by  overwhelming  deadly  force  or  ignominiously  abandon  their 
constitutional  government  and  falsify  their  solemn  obligations 
of  allegience;  yet  we  feel  none  the  less  bound  to  abide  with 
Christ  on  his  high  plane  of  peaceful  righteousness,  and  thereby 
endeavor,  however  gradually,  to  leaven  the  minds  of  mankind 
with  those  benignant  principles  which  alone  can  put  an  end 
to  all  disorder  and  violence: 

"  That  in  the  meantime  we  should  be  unfaithful  to  our 
convictions  of  truth  and  duty  if  we  recognized  this  as  a  war 
for  the  emancipation  of  our  down-trodden  American  bondmen, 
whatever  may  chance  to  be  its  actual  results,  and  if  we  did 
not  unequivocally  reiterate  our  testimony  against  the  afore- 
mentioned great  national  sins,  especially  the  upholding  of  the 
slave  system  by  both  the  Xorth  and  South,  which  has  brought 
on  our  country  this  calamitous  scourge;  and  if,  also,  we  did 
not  earnestly  entreat  the  people  of  all  parties  concerned  to 
hasten  their  repentance  and  make  all  possible  reparation  to 


316  THE   HOPEDALE   COMMUNITY. 

the  injured   millions   whose   cries    are    still    going    up    to  the 
infinite  Father  for  redress: 

"  That  we  do  not  deem  ourselves  in  any  wise  responsible 
for  this  terrible  conflict,  having  done  what  we  could  in  our 
humble  way,  by  warning  and  example,  to  prevent  it,  and  to 
avert  the  storm  of  retributive  sufferings  with  which  it  comes 
down  on  the  nation;  so  that  nothing  now  remains  for  us  in 
relation  to  it  but  to  abstain  from  all  complicity  with  it,  to 
bear  patiently  our  portion  of  its  ills,  to  relieve  where  we  can 
the  distresses  of  its  victims,  and  to  look  forward  with  unwaver- 
ing confidence  in  the  all  wise  providence  of  God  to  better 
days,  when  He  shall  have  overruled  all  its  wrath  and  woe  for 
ultimate  good: 

"  And,  finally,  that  we  deem  it  our  proper  mission  under 
Jesus  Christ  to  bear  such  testimonies  and  lead  such  lives  as 
will  tend  to  regenerate  mankind,  elevate  them  to  the  true 
Christian  plane  of  personal  and  national  righteousness,  con- 
form all  human  governments  to  the  divine,  abolish  all  dernier 
resorts  to  carnal  weapons,  supersede  all  deadly  forces  by 
beneficient  ones,  and  thus  consummate  the  reign  of  universal 
love  and  peace. 

"  WM.  S.  HEYWOOD,  President. 

*•  CYRUS  BRADBURY,  Recorder." 

These  resolutions  were  printed  in  tract  form  and  dis- 
tributed extensively  among  our  friends  and  in  the  general 
community,  serving  no  doubt  a  good  purpose  in  making 
our  attitude  respecting  the  conflict  that  was  already  being 
vigorously  waged  and  those  engaged  in  it  on  both  sides 
better  understood  than  it  could  possibly  have  been  before. 
And  yet,  however  truthful,  just,  and  meritorious  the  pro- 
uunciamento  was,  it  was  but  a  pebble  thrown  against  the 
rushing  tide  of  popular  militant  patriotism  deluging  the 
Union-loving  but  not  yet  slavery-hating  North.  And  its 
effect  was  still  less  potent  and  salutary  because  it  was 
cast  by  a  palsied  hand  —  by  the  remnant  of  a  Community 
which  had  confessed  itself  incapable  of  putting  into  prac- 
tice its  own  much  vaunted  principles  of  equity,  brother- 
hood, and  peace ;  especially  in  their  application  to  the 


COMMUNITY   PRINCIPLES    TESTED.  317 

ownership  and  use  of  property,  the  management  of  busi- 
ness, the  organization  and  right  ordering  of  industry,  and 
the  maintenance  of  a  miniature  Christian  commonwealth 
on  its  own  proper  domain.  It  served  to  appease  the 
conscience  of  a  few.  devotees  of  an  ideal,  to  which, 
notwithstanding  the  violence  of  the  storm  —  the  wrath  and 
scorn  of  men,  they  still  could  not  be  restrained  from 
clinging,  and  to  satisfy  a  small  number  of  those  who,, 
although  they  were  in  full  sympathy  with  the  loyal  North 
and  saw  no  way  out  of  the  trouble  but  that  of  the  battle- 
field, could  yet  appreciate  the  motives  and  respect  the 
moral  and  religious  scruples  of  devout  and  sincere  men 
and  women  striving  to  be  faithful  followers  of  the  great 
Prince  of  Peace ;  but  it  did  not  save  those  issuing  it 
from  the  reproaches  of  the  unthinking  minions  of  the 
war-god,  nor  from  the  machinations  of  the  agents  of 
inexorable  military  power,  than  which  no  usurpation  or 
despotism  of  autocrat  or  czar  is  more  imperious,  insolent, 
heartless,  and  unrelenting.  This  will  appear  from  the 
following  occurrence,  which  took  place  among  us  during* 
the  continuance  of  hostilities. 

Case  of  Conscription.  In  the  summer  of  1863  one  of 
our  faithful  and  worthy  members,  J.  Lowell  Hey  wood  r 
was  drafted  into  the  military  service  of  the  United  (?) 
States  under  the  Conscription  Act  of  March  3  in  the 
same  year.  This  was  a  sore  trial  and  a  cause  of  much 
anxiety  to  himself  and  family,  and  scarcely  less  so  to 
all  the  rest  of  us.  That  he  could  not  enter  the  army  and 
serve  as  a  soldier  there,  was  a  foregone  conclusion. 
The  only  question  was  whether  he  should  pay  the  pre- 
scribed $300.00  commutation  money,  as  the  law  allowed 
him  to  do,  or  submit  to  such  military  penalties  as  might 
be  pronounced  against  him,  however  severe  they  might 
be.  Public  opinion  among  us  was  divided  upon  that 
question.  A  strong  feeling  prevailed  that  absolute  con- 
sistency required  that  he  should  suffer  a  heroic  personal 


-318  THE   HOPEDALE   COMMUNITY 

martyrdom,  and  thus  bear  the  most  effective  testimony 
to  his  religious  principles ;  but  it  was  also  thought  that 
the  commutation  money  might  be  paid  by  himself  and 
friends  in  good  conscience  and  without  blame,  if  it  were 
done  under  protest,  thus  saving  him  from  indefinite  incar- 
ceration in  fortress  or  prison,  or  from  possible  death, 
should  military  infatuation  or  madness,  as  might  be  the 
case,  carry  the  matter  to  such  an  extreme.  My  personal 
sympathies  for  his  family  in  their  distress  overruled  my 
sterner  convictions,  and  I  gave  my  adhesion  to  the  latter 
view,  drawing  up  a  paper  in  remonstrance  for  presenta- 
tion at  martial  headquarters,  which,  at  the  time,  I  per- 
suaded myself  met  the  moral  demands  of  the  case.  This 
course  was  finally  approved  by  a  majority  of  our  mem- 
bers and  carried  into  effect.  As  a  further  token  of  our 
position  at  that  great  crisis  of  our  national  history,  and 
of  our  adherence  to  our  standard  of  faith  under  per- 
plexing circumstances,  the  document  is  herewith  sub- 
mitted : 

"  To  the  Governmental  Authorities  of  the  United  States  and 
their  Constituents:  The  undersigned,  John  Lowell  Heyw6od  of 
Hopedale,  in  the  town  of  Milford,  in  the  eighth  Congressional 
District  of  Massachusetts,  respectfully  maketh  solemn  declara- 
tion, remonstrance  and  protest  as  follows,  to  wit: 

"  That  he  has  been  enrolled,  drafted  and  notified  to  report 
himself  as  a  soldier  of  the  United  States,  pursuant  to  an  Act 
of  Congress,  approved  March  3,  1863,  commonly  called  the 
Conscription  Law: 

"  That  he  holds  in  utter  abhorrence  the  Rebellion  which 
the  said  law  was  designed  to  aid  in  suppressing,  and  would 
devotedly  fight  unto  death  against  it  if  he  could  conscientiously 
resort  to  the  use  of  deadly  weapons  in  any  case  whatsoever: 

"  That  he  has  been  for  nearly  nine  years  a  member  in  good 
and  regular  standing  of  a  Christian  Community  whose  religious 
confession  of  faith  and  practice  pledges  its  adherents  never 
to  kill,  injure  or  harm  any  human  being  under  any  pretext, 
even  their  worst  enemy: 


COMMUNITY   PRINCIPLES   TESTED.  319 

"  That,  in  accordance  with  his  highest  convictions  of  duty 
and  his  sacred  pledge,  as  a  member  of  said  Community,  he 
has  scrupulously  and  uniformly  abstained  from  participating 
in  the  State  and  National  governments  under  which  he  has 
lived  —  not  only  foregoing  the  franchises,  preferments,  emolu- 
ments and  advantages  of  a  constituent  co-governing  citizen 
but  also  the  privilege  of  righting  his  wrongs  by  commencing 
suits  at  law  and  of  calling  on  the  government  for  personal 
protection  against  threatened  violence,  in  order  thereby  not  to 
make  himself  morally  responsible  for  their  constitutional  dernier 
resorts  to  war,  capital  punishment  and  other  kindred  acts, 
and  also  in  order  to  commend  to  mankind  by  a  consistent 
example  those  divine  principles  which  prepare  the  way  for  a 
higher  order  of  society  and  government  on  the  earth: 

"  That,  nevertheless,  it  is  one  of  his  cardinal  Christian  prin- 
ciples to  respect  existing  human  government,  however  imper- 
fect, as  a  natural  outgrowth  and  necessity  of  society  for  the 
time  being,  subordinate  to  the  providential  overruling  of  the 
supreme  divine  government,  and  therefore  to  be  an  orderly, 
submissive,  peaceable,  tribute-paying  subject  thereof;  to  be  no 
detriment  or  hindrance  to  any  good  thereby  subserved;  to 
countenance  no  rebellion,  sedition,  riot  or  other  disorderly 
demonstration  against  its  authorities;  to  oppose  its  greatest 
abuses  and  wrongs  only  by  truthful  testimony  and  firm  moral 
remonstrance;  and  in  the  last  resort,  when  obliged  for  con- 
science sake  to  non-comply  with  its  requirements,  to  submit 
meekly  to  whatever  penalties  it  may  impose: 

"  That,  with  such  principles,  scruples,  and  views  of  duty,  he 
cannot  conscientiously  comply  with  the  demands  of  this  Con- 
scription Law,  either  by  serving  as  a  soldier  or  by  procuring  a 
substitute.  Nor  can  he  pay  the  prescribed  three  hundred 
dollars  commutation  money,  which  the  law  declarative ly 
appropriates  to  the  hiring  of  a  substitute,  except  under  explicit 
remonstrance  and  protest  that  the  same  is  virtually  taken  from 
him  by  compulsion  for  a  purpose  and  use  to  which  he  could 
never  voluntarily  contribute  it  and  for  which  he  holds  himself 
in  no  wise  morally  responsible: 

"  And  he  hereby  solemnly  protests,  not  only  for  himself  but 
also  in  behalf  of  his  Christian  associates  and  all  other  orderly, 
peaceable,  tax-paying,  non-juring  subjects  of  the  government, 
of  whatever  denomination  or  class,  that  their  conscientious 


320  THE   HOPEDALE   COMMUNITY. 

scruples  against  war  and  human  life-taking  ought  in  justice 
and  honor  to  be  respected  by  the  legislators  and  administrators 
of  a  professedly  Republican  government;  and  that,  aside  from 
general  taxation  for  the  support  thereof,  no  person  of  harmless 
and  exemplary  life,  who  is  conscientiously  opposed  to  war  and 
deadly  force  between  human  beings,  and  especially  no  person 
who  for  conscience  sake  foregoes  the  franchises,  preferments, 
privileges  and  advantages  of  a  constituent  citizen  ought  ever  to 
be  conscripted  as  a  soldier  either  in  person  or  property. 

"  Now,  therefore,  I,  the  said  John  Lowell  Heywood,  do  pay 
the  three  hundred  dollars  commutation  money  to  the  govern- 
ment of  the  United  States  under  military  constraint  and  in 
respectful  submission  to  the  powers  that  be,  but  earnestly 
protesting  against  the  exaction  as  an  infraction  of  my  natural 
and  indefeasible  rights  as  a  conscientious,  peaceable  subject. 
And  for  the  final  vindication  of  my  cause,  motives  and  inten- 
tions, I  appeal  to  the  moral  sense  of  all  just  men,  and  above 
all  to  the  inerrible  judgment  of  the  Supreme  Father  and  Ruler 
of  the  universe. 

"  Subscribed  with  my  hand  at  Hopedale,  Milford,  Mass.,  this 
eighteenth  day  of  August,  1863. 

"JOHN  LOWELL  HEYWOOD." 

Upon  more  deliberate  and  dispassionate  examination  of 
this  whole  matter,  I  had  serious  misgivings  as  to  the 
rightfulness  of  the  course  that  was  pursued.  The  Protest ,. 
though  inherently  just  and  good,  was  too  weak  to  meet 
the  moral  exigency  of  the  case  and  produce  salutary 
results.  The  spirit  of  conscienceless  domination  which 
tramples  on  such  sacred  scruples  and  rights  as  the  docu- 
ment enumerates,  seems  to  require  a  more  stringent  moral 
resistance  in  order  to  be  made  to  feel  its  culpability  and 
be  brought  to  repentance  —  in  order  to  be  regenerated. 
It  is  sheer  extortion  and  persecution ;  an  outrage  unwar- 
ranted, save  in  the  ethics  of  brutal  despotism,  to  con- 
script a  man  of  such  principles,  character,  and  life  as 
our  victimized  associate.  And  when  committed,  it  should 
be  met  with  unflinching  moral  heroism  and  personal 
martyrdom,  even  unto  death,  if  need  be,  in  order  to 


I   UNIVERSITY 
EDUCATIONAL    INTERESTS.  321" 

arouse  public  attention  to  the  enormity  of  the  offence 
and  induce  a  radical  and  most  necessary  reform  in  the 
practical  administration,  not  alone  of  military  affairs  but 
of  the  concerns  of  states  and  nations.  At  least  this  is 
my  present  persuasion. 

Educational  Interests.     As  Hopedale  was  a  School  Dis- 
trict,   legally   established    by   the    town   of    Milford    as    a 
part  of  its  general  educational  system,  our  common  public 
school  was   properly   under   the   care    and    supervision   of 
the  town's  Committee.     Nevertheless,  we  annually  elected 
a    Board  of   Education,   which   acted  in  concurrence  with 
said  Committee   in   public  school  matters,   and  exerted   a 
positive   and   salutary  influence  over  the  nurture  and  cul- 
ture  of    our   children   and    youth.      Moreover,    the    Com- 
munity   appropriated    money    from    year    to   year   for   the 
purpose   of    extending   the   time   of   operating   the    school 
beyond  that  provided  for  by  the  town,  and  of   procuring 
extra  apparatus  and  supplies  that  might  be  deemed  desir- 
able for  the  more  successful  prosecution  of  school  work. 
Over    this    local    appropriation    and    its    expenditure,   our 
Board  of   course,   had  entire  control.     This  practice  was 
followed  down  to  the  year  1861,  our  appropriations  gradu- 
ally decreasing  meanwhile,  until  at  that  date  they  ceased 
entirely ;    although   our  School   Board  was  continued  and 
acted  on  substantially  the  same  footing  as  before  for  some 
years  afterward.     Our  original  Chapel-School-house  served, 
with    sundry    additions    and    improvements,    though    with 
decreasing  comfort  and  convenience,  till   the   year    1868, 
when  it  was   superseded   by  the  present  commodious  and 
better  arranged  establishment  erected  on  the  same  square. 
This  was   built   by    the  town,  into  whose   hands   the   old 
public  school  property  had    previously  passed.     While  the 
Community  had  a  voice  in  the  management  of  the  schools 
they  maintained   a   high    standing,    and   I    am   not  aware 
that  they  have  in    any  essential  respect  degenerated  since 
that  time. 

21 


322  THE   HOPEDALE   COMMUNITY. 

The  Hopedale  Home  School,  under  the  successful  man- 
agement of  Wm.  S.  and  Abbie  B.  Heywood  as  joint 
Principals,  was  closed  soon  after  the  breaking  out  of 
the  Rebellion,  the  troubled,  uncertain  state  of  things  in 
the  country  at  large  contributing  chiefly  to  that  result. 
A  private  school  at  a  later  date  was  started  and  put  in 
charge  of  Miss  Lucy  Patrick,  an  accomplished  and  effi- 
cient teacher  resident  among  us.  It  continued  some  two 
years  and  was  then  given  up. 

Missionary  Activities.  The  Practical  Christian  Commu- 
nion, the  organization  which  represeutated  our  cause  in 
the  general  region  covered  by  our  missionary  labors, 
continued  to  exist  for  some  years  after  the  opening  of 
the  period  reviewed  in  the  present  chapter,  and  held  its 
Conferences  in  different  localities,  though  less  frequently 
than  before.  The  local  Inductive  Communions  subordi- 
nate to  it  very  naturally  declined  in  interest  at  the  sev- 
eral points  where  they  had  been  established,  and  at 
length  were  given  up  altogether.  The  reasons  for  this 
have  already  been  indicated.  There  was  a  continually 
diminishing  call  for  the  particular  Gospel  which  our 
ministers  and  lecturers  deemed  themselves  commissioned 
to  proclaim  and  commend  to  the  world,  as  there  was 
an  equally  diminishing  opportunity  to  obtain  a  hearing 
by  any  aggressive  measures  which  we  ourselves  might  be 
disposed  to  inaugurate.  The  increasing  disturbance  in 
the  political  world  growing  out  of  the  multiplying  usur- 
pations and  more  desperate  intrigues  of  the  myrmidons 
of  oppression,  unfitted  the  popular  mind  and  heart  for 
the  serious  consideration  of  any  great  moral  question  or 
theme  of  reform  —  of  any  weighty  subject  indeed,  save 
what  related  in  one  way  or  another  to  the  essential  cause 
of  the  existing  trouble  and  to  the  evidently  approaching 
crisis  in  the  affairs  of  the  nation.  All  else  seemed  out 
of  place  and  could  get  no  hearing.  The  usual  popular 
ministrations  of  religion  in  all  denominations  were  sensi- 


MISSIONARY    ACTIVITIES.  323 

bly  affected  by  the  prevailing  excitement,  and  became 
to  a  very  large  extent  charged  with  a  politico-military 
spirit.  The  Old  Testament  rather  than  the  New  furnished 
texts  for  sermons  and  maxims  for  human  conduct.  The 
Jewish  God  of  battles  was  the  Deity  to  whom  worship 
was  rendered  rather  than  the  Christian  Father  of  all 
mankind.  And  Joshua,  leading  the  armies  of  the  Lord 
against  the  Canaanites,  was  deemed  more  worthy  of  emu- 
lation and  imitation  than  Jesus,  going  about  doing  good 
and  teaching  his  disciples  and  all  men  to  "love  their  ene- 
mies, bless  those  that  cursed  them,  etc."  What  were  we 
who  were  left  of  The  Hopedale  Community  to  do  at  such  a 
time  as  that  with  our  Practical  Christianity  and  message  of 
*4  Peace  on  earth  and  Good  Will"  to  all  mankind?  What 
could  we  do  but  wait  until  the  storm  had  passed  by,  till 
-calmer  days  should  come  again  and  men  were  in  a  fitter 
frame  of  mind  and  in  a  better  temper  to  receive  and  profit 
by  the  pure  Gospel  of  the  Son  of  God  ?  To  have  attempted 
anything  else  —  to  have  kept  up  our  missionary  activities, 
the  instrumentalities  of  former  days  —  would  have  been 
as  unwise  as  ineffectual  —  an  utter  waste  of  energy  and 
strength,  of  time  and  effort,  on  our  part.  And  so  our 
Conferences  were  given  up,  our  Inductive  Communions 
•ceased  to  be,  and  our  Promulgation  Society,  formed  after 
the  suspension  of  The  Practical  Christian  for  the  purpose 
of  issuing  tracts  and  pamphlets  when  deemed  advisable, 
soon  fell  into  dreamless  inactivity.  Whoever  of  us  was 
moved  to  go  abroad,  proclaiming  the  truth  as  he  had 
received  it  and  applying  it  to  human  life  as  he  thought 
it  wise  and  productive  of  good,  did  so  on  his  own  per- 
sonal account,  but  the  missionary  feature  of  our  socialistic 
movement  —  our  Community  propagandism,  with  its  various 
appliances  for  service  in  the  field  of  Humanity,  was  dead, 
without  hope  of  resurrection. 

Religious  Interests  and  Institutions.     As  was  clearly  indi- 
cated in  the  earlier  chapters  of  this  volume,  The  Hopedale 


324  THE   HOPEDALE   COMMUNITY. 

Community  had  a  distinctively  religious  origin,  and  was- 
from  the  beginning  to  all  intents  and  purposes  a  Christian? 
Church.  So  it  was  understood  to  be  by  its  founders,  and 
so  it  was  represented  to  the  outside  world.  Its  real  basis 
was  an  acknowledged  Declaration  of  Faith,  and  its  char- 
acteristic features  and  multiform  activities  were  shaped 
and  directed  by  fundamental  religious  principles.  Its 
members  all  regarded  themselves  as  pledged  to  loyalty  to- 
Jesus  of  Nazareth,  and  to  an  earnest  endeavor  to  lead  a 
life  conformed  to  his  precepts  and  example.  They  regarded 
its  various  secular  interests  —  educational,  industrial,  finan- 
cial, social,  civil,  ail  its  administrative  functions,  as  sub- 
ordinate to  the  dictates  of  divine  and  everlasting  truth. 
Its  crowning  purpose  was  to  institute  an  order  of  society 
conformed  in  all  respects  to  the  requirements  of  the  Gos- 
pel of  Christ. 

One  of  its  first  concerns,  therefore,  after  securing  a 
"  local  habitation  and  a  name,"  was  to  provide  for  the 
religious  culture  and  nurture  of  all  classes  of  our  people. 
As  noted  in  its  proper  place,  we  established  regular  meet- 
ings on  the  first  day  of  the  week  at  the  very  outset  for 
purposes  of  worship  and  instruction  in  the  things  of  the 
spiritual  life,  and  these  were  kept  up  during  the  entire 
period  of  our  history.  An  active  and  highly  prosperous 
Sunday  School  was  opened  early  and  became  one  of  our 
cherished  and  permanent  institutions  and  an  effective 
instrumentality  for  good  to  our  children  and  youth.  The 
Thursday  evening  Conference  was  a  source  of  refreshing 
and  inspiration  to  considerable  numbers  of  our  population, 
outside  as  well  as  inside  our  membership.  The  Monday 
evening  Meeting,  designed  more  particularly  for  young 
people  but  hospitable  to  all  comers,  prospered  for  many 
years  under  my  personal  superintendence,  and  wrought  a 
most  excellent  work  in  the  way  of  imparting  to  those 
attending  it  a  knowledge  of  religious  truth  and  of  nour- 
ishing the  divine  life  in  many  souls.  Even  after  the 


THE  HOPEDALE  PULPIT.  325 

•change  of  1856,  although  the  more  secular  affairs  of  our 
people  were  subjected  to  a  system  of  management  radi- 
cally different  from  what  existed  before,  the  religious 
activities  remained  virtually  the  same.  And  they  contin- 
ued much  the  same  until  circumstances  and  justice  to  all 
parties  concerned  seemed  to  warrant  a  readjustment  in 
this  respect,  as  will  soon  be  made  to  appear. 

In  our  early  days  nothing  was  paid  as  a  pecuniary 
remuneration  for  preaching  or  otherwise  conducting  the 
services  of  public  worship.  There  was  a  goodly  number 
of  professional  clergymen,  exhorters,  and  free-meeting 
talkers,  in  our  home  ranks,  besides  wayfaring  public 
speakers  from  abroad,  ready  to  serve  us,  both  on  Sun- 
days and  on  other  religious  occasions.  At  a  later  day 
the  Community  adopted  a  more  systematic  method  and 
selected  certain  responsible  persons  to  take  charge  more 
particularly  of  our  Sunday  gatherings,  an  allowance  of 
$1.25  being  appropriated  for  each  discourse  delivered,  the 
sum  being  afterwards  increased  to  $3.00  per  Sunday. 
Until  the  year  1856.  the  duties  of  the  position  were 
performed  by  the  several  ministers  whose  names  have 
been  repeatedly  mentioned  in  the  foregoing  pages,  although 
there  was  always  provision  made  for  such  speakers  from 
outside  as  might  be  acceptable  to  those  having  the  matter 
in  charge.  Subsequently  to  that  date,  Bros.  George  Gay, 
ti  regularly  ordained  clergyman  of  the  Uuiversalist  denom- 
ination, and  Byrau  J.  Butts,  a  graduate  of  the  Meadville 
(Unitarian)  Divinity  School,  both  recent  comers  to  our 
fellowship,  shared  the  responsibilities  of  public  relig- 
ious teachers  with  Bros.  Fish,  Heywood,  and  myself. 
Bro.  Fish  soon  after  removed  from  the  place,  Bro.  Gay 
later,  and  subsequently  Bro.  Butts  retired  from  active 
ministerial  service.  This  left  Bro.  Heywood  and  myself 
^occupants  of  the  field  for  several  years,  when,  the  former 
having  gone  from  Hopedale  and  entered  upon  the  work 
of  the  ministry  elsewhere,  I  became  the  only  approved 


326  THE   HOPEDALE   COMMUNITY. 

preacher  of  the  Community  and  continued  so  to  the  end 
of  its  days.  The  amount  appropriated  for  the  support  of 
preaching  rose  from  $150.00  a  year  in  1856,  or  about 
$3.00  each  Sunday,  to  $6.00  dollars  per  Sunday  in  1860, 
$8.00  in  1864,  and  $12.00  in  1866.  Two  years  later  the 
Community  was  virtually  submerged  in  what  has  since 
been  known  as  "The  Hopedale  Parish,"  and  its  agency 
in  the  management  of  the  religious  affairs  of  the  village 
came  to  an  end. 

The  original  school-house  and  Chapel  building,  com- 
pleted in  1844,  was  made  by  enlargement  and  improve- 
ment to  serve  the  public  need  as  a  place  of  worship  and 
general  religious  convocation  until  the  year  1860,  when 
it  was  supplanted  by  the  neat  and  commodious  structure 
which  was  erected  on  a  commanding  eminence  at  the  rear 
of  Community  Square,  so  called,  near  the  center  of  our 
growing  village.  The  plot  of  land  upon  which  it  stood, 
consisting  of  about  two  acres  of  rough  wild  pasture  to- 
begin  with,  had  been  in  process  of  improvement  for  sev- 
eral years,  chiefly  by  the  labors  of  our  Industrial  Union,, 
and  of  being  made  ready  for  the  completed  edifice  by 
grading,  terracing,  the  planting  of  trees,  etc.  The  build- 
ing was  provided  for  by  subscription,  a  paper  circulated 
for  the  purpose  of  raising  the  requisite  funds  receiving 
signatures  and  pledges  of  money  varying  from  $1,800.00 
appended  to  the  names  of  E.  D.  and  Anna  T.  Draper, 
to  $4.00  donated  by  one  of  our  humbler  members,  the 
whole  amounting  to  $4,423.00.  Its  entire  cost,  including- 
slips  and  furnishings,  was  somewhat  over  $6,000.00  —  the 
excess  above  the  subscription  pledges  being  generously 
supplied  by  the  brothers,  E.  D.  and  George  Draper. 
The  structure  was  in  rectangular  form,  according  to  the 
type  of  ecclesiastical  architecture  in  vogue  at  that  date, 
measuring  58  feet  in  length  by  44  feet  in  width  with  30 
feet  posts,  the  front  being  surmounted  by  an  appropriate 
bell-tower.  The  Building  Committee  consisted  of  Wm. 


DEDICATION   OF   NEW   MEETING-HOUSE.  327 

H.  Humphrey,  E.  D.  Draper,  and  Wm.  S.  Hey  wood. 
Mr  Lewis  Fales  of  Milford  was  the  architect ;  and  Mr. 
Lowell  Fales,  the  superintending  carpenter  until  near  com- 
pletion ;  Bro.  Wm.  H.  Humphrey  succeeding  him.  The 
enterprise  was  brought  to  a  fortunate  conclusion  in  the 
autumn  of  the  year  named,  and  dedicatory  services  were 
held  in  the  new  sanctuary  on  the  loth  of  November.  An 
account  of  what  transpired  on  the  occasion  from  the  pen 
of  Rev.  Samuel  May  of  Leicester,  who  was  present,  was 
published  in  The  Anti-Slavery  Standard  of  New  York, 
from  which  the  following  extracts  are  copied : 

"To  the  Editor,  etc.:  It  is  not  often  in  this  slavery-ridden 
country  that  the  dedication  of  a  new  church  building  can  have 
any  special  interest  for  the  true  anti-slavery  reformer,  or  for 
the  lover  of  Christianity  in  its  genuine  and  incorrupt  form. 
Very  rarely  would  one  of  these  receive  an  invitation  to  attend 
such  an  occasion  and  participate  in  its  exercises.  But  the 
dedication  of  the  new  church  edifice  at  Hopedale  (Milford, 
Mass.)  forms  an  exception  to  the  rule  on  this  subject;  and  as 
the  Community  there  established  is  of  a  character  to  interest 
all  true  lovers  of  their  kind,  and  all  Abolitionists  in  an  espe- 
cial manner,  a  notice  of  the  occasion  becomes  appropriate  to 
your  columns  and  may  also  prove  interesting  to  your  readers." 
"  Your  correspondent  was  one  of  the  numerous  friends  present 
and  believes  that  all  true  Anti-slavery  reformers  may  have  a 
word  of  congratulation  and  God-speed  for  the  Hopedale  friends 
at  this  time." 

"A  particular  description  of  the  house  will  not  be  attempted. 
In  a  basement  story,  but  entirely  above  ground,  is  a  large  and 
commodious  room  for  vestry  purposes;  over  that,  the  entire 
second  story  of  the  building  (with  the  exception  of  two  ante- 
rooms at  the  sides  of  the  platform  and  from  which  there  is 
communication  with  the  vestry  ante-rooms  below),  is  devoted 
to  the  meeting-house  proper.  This  is  large  enough  to  seat 
comfortably  five  hundred  persons.  It  is  neatly  carpeted  and 
the  seats  are  cushioned  uniformly  throughout  the  house.  The 
walls  are  simply  but  tastefully  painted  in  fresco,  and  the  entire 
interior  has  a  very  pleasing  effect.  It  proves  to  be  as  favora- 
ble for  the  purposes  of  speaking  and  of  musical  expression  as 
could  be  desired. 


328  THE   HOPEDALE   COMMUNITY. 

"On  Thursday  the  15th  inst.,  at  10  o'clock  A.M.,  an  audi- 
ence was  collected  from  Hopedale  and  vicinity,  which,  with 
friends  from  greater  distances,  well  filled  the  house.  After  an 
anthem  by  a  choir  of  about  twenty  persons,  the  Building- 
Committee  delivered  to  the  chosen  Trustees  the  title  deed  and 
the  keys  of  the  house.  The  statement  therewith  made  by 
Wm.  S.  Hey  wood  was  a  very  interesting  one.  The  house  had 
been  built  by  voluntary  subscription  and  donation;  there  had 
been  no  resort  to  a  compulsory  tax;  there  had  been  entire 
harmony  and  cheerful  co-operation  in  the  work;  no  accident 
to  life  or  limb  had  occurred;  and  the  completed  building  stood 
unencumbered  by  any  debt.  The  pews  were  to  be  free  to  all 
without  distinction  —  to  old  and  young,  to  rich  and  poor,  to 
black  and  white  —  and  their  occupancy  would  be  entirely  free 
of  tax  or  charge;  the  house  to  be,  in  the  first  place,  devoted 
to  the  uses  of  The  Hopedale  Community  and  of  The  Practical 
Christian  Church  there,  and  when  not  needed  by  them  to  be 
free  to  any  person  of  good  moral  character  who  might  desire 
to  utter  therein  his  or  her  convictions  of  truth  and  duty. 
Adin  Ballou  (the  original  mover  and  guiding  spirit  of  the 
Community)  then,  on  behalf  of  the  Trustees,  accepted  the 
trust  on  the  conditions  named,  adding  that  persons  not  con- 
nected with  the  Community  were  invited  to  come  and  take 
seats  and  share  privileges  in  the  house  on  the  same  terms 
with  the  members  themselves,  their  contributions  towards  its 
expenses  being  wholly  voluntary.  After  another  anthem,  an 
appropriate  prayer  was  offered  by  Samuel  May,  and  this  was 
followed  by  the  chanting  of  a  hymn  written  for  the  occasion. 

"  The  morning  sermon  of  dedication  was  then  delivered  by 
W.  S.  Heywood,  Principal  of  the  Hopedale  Home  School,  one 
of  the  stated  preachers  of  the  place.  He  essayed  to  define  and 
illustrate  religion.  No  better  definition  or  classification  of  the 
duties  of  religion,  he  said,  could  be  given  than  the  old  one  — 
Love  to  God  and  love  to  man.  The  former  of  these  two  great 
heads  he  took  as  the  subject  of  his  discourse,  the  latter  being 
reserved  for  the  afternoon  topic.  The  preacher  proceeded  in 
a  manner  clear,  free  and  reverent,  to  set  forth  the  being  and 
character  of  God,  the  true  nature  of  love  to  him  and  the  ways 
of  manifesting  that  love."  "  The  hymn  '  Nearer,  my  God,  to 
Thee '  was  then  sung  very  beautifully.  The  musical  exercises 
throughout  the  day  were  under  the  direction  of  Mr.  Joshua 


SERVICES   AT   THE    DEDICATION.  329 

Hutchinson   of  Milford,  N.  H.,  and   were   admirably  arranged, 
forming  a  most  attractive  and  impressive  feature  of  the  occasion. 

"  In  the  afternoon  the  numbers  of  the  audience  were  per- 
ceptibly enlarged —  the  house  being  filled  to  the  utmost  extent. 
After  a  voluntary  by  the  choir.  Rev.  John  Boyden  of  Woon- 
socket,  R.  I.,  read  well-chosen  selections  from  the  Scriptures 
most  impressively.  Another  original  hymn,  beginning 

1  What  house  can  we  rear  for  the  Infinite  Mind,' 
was  sung,  when  Mr.  Ballou  offered  the  dedicatory  prayer.     Mr. 
Heywood  read  a  summary  of   the  principles  held  by  the  Com- 
munity as   sovereign   and  divine,  and  was   followed  by  a  song 
entitled  '  What  I  live  for,'  from  Mr.  Hutchinson. 

"  The  second  part  of  the  dedication  sermon  was  then  given 
by  Rev.  Mr.  Ballon.  It  was  an  admirable  exposition  of  the 
Apostolic  doctrine  that  '  he  who  loveth  not  his  brother  whom 
he  hath  seen  cannot  love  God  whom  he  hath  not  seen.'  Rev. 
Mr.  Boyden  and  Rev.  Mr.  May  made  congratulatory  remarks, 
each  enlarging  somewhat  on  the  topics  treated  during  the  day. 

"The  house  was  then  declared  to  be  properly  dedicated  and 
set  apart  to  the  uses  of  religion  as  it  had  been  defined  and  to 
the  promulgation  of  those  great  principles  relating  to  God  and 
man  and  social  life  which  had  been  set  forth  and  enforced. 

"In  the  evening  the  house  was  again  well  filled.  Rev.  Mr. 
Boyden  offered  prayer.  A  truly  good  original  hymn  by  Miss 
Lucy  Whitney  (of  Westminster)  was  sung;  and  Mr.  Ballou 
said  the  meeting  was  free  for  addresses  and  remarks  from  any 
friends  present,  each  speaker  to  be  followed  by  some  musical 
selection  from  the  choir.  Rev.  Mr.  Hassell  of  Haverhill  was 
the  first  speaker,  touching  upon  several  interesting  points  in 
addition  to  the  subjects  presented  in  the  day's  discourses, 
opening  a  discussion  in  which  Messrs.  Ballou,  Heywood,  Hill 
of  Milford,  and  May  took  part. 

"Thus  closed  a  series  of  uncommonly  interesting  and  en- 
couraging meetings."  "And  thus  was  set  apart  to  the  best  of 
human  uses  —  thereby  best  honoring  the  great  and  good  Father 
of  all  —  the  new  Hopedale  Church  wherein  we  trust  and  believe 
that  many  a  meeting  shall  yet  be  held  promotive  of  human 
freedom,  growth  and  happiness;  many  a  faithful  Anti-slavery 
meeting,  before  whose  penetrating  light  and  earnest  rebuke  the 
hideous  darkness  of  oppression  shall  be  scattered  and  its 
apologists  and  defenders  be  put  to  shame  and  converted  to  a. 


330  THE   HOPEDALE   COMMUNITY. 

better  mind;  many  a  Temperance  meeting,  which  shall  break 
the  soul-bondage  of  degrading  habits  and  bring  him  who  was 
dead  to  be  alive  again,  him  who  was  lost  to  be  found  and 
restored  to  virtue  and  peace;  many  a  Woman's  Rights  meet- 
ing, where  the  shackles  which  tyrannical  customs  and  laws 
have  imposed  upon  woman's  just  and  rightful  action  shall  be 
weakened,  until,  at  length,  they  fall  entirely  away;  many  a 
Christian  meeting,  in  short,  where  with  all  boldness  the  truths 
of  the  kingdom  of  God  shall  be  unfolded  and  multitudes  be 
brought  by  the  beauty  of  holiness  to  lead  lives  of  uprightness,, 
peace  and  good-will  to  man;  thus  rendering  to  God  the  high- 
est glory. 

"  '  My  soul  shall  pray  again, 

Peace  with  this  house  remain, 
For  here  my  friends  and  brethren  dwell; 

And  since  my  Father  here 

Draws  to  his  children  near, 
My  soul  shall  ever  love  thee  well.'  " 

Although  the  Community  in  its  organic  capacity  was 
still  in  charge  of  the  moral  and  religious  activities  of  the 
place,  and  although  the  formalities  of  worship  and  the 
means  of  instruction  and  culture  in  the  tilings  pertaining 
to  the  divine  kingdom  were  scrupulously  provided  for  and 
maintained  from  year  to  year,  yet,  as  time  went  on,  there 
was  a  manifest  falling  away  from  the  high  plane  of 
thought  and  conduct  formerly  occupied  by  the  population 
of  Hopedale,  and  an  unmistakably  increasing  conformity 
to  the  spirit,  maxims,  customs,  and  general  features  of 
that  old  social  order  from  which  we  had  been  so  long 
striving  to  be  emancipated.  Plainly  as  some  of  us  saw  this 
and  deeply  as  we  deplored  it  we  were  utterly  unable  to* 
prevent  it.  The  gradually  diminishing  number  of  our 
own  members,  the  continual  influx  among  us  of  individ- 
uals and  families  indifferent  if  not  averse  to  our  professed 
principles  and  objects,  the  dominant  spirit  of  secularism 
and  commercialism  in  our  midst,  and  the  spirit  of  politico- 
military  patriotism  that  prevailed  in  the  community  at 


PRACTICAL   CHRISTIAN   CHURCH.  331 

large,  combined  to  relax  and  weaken  the  bonds  that  held 
the  masses  of  our  people  to  lofty  and  noble  ideals  and 
to  cause  a  decline  of  the  personally  religious  life  on  every 
hand.  A  realizing  sense  of  this  state  of  things  and  an 
ardent  desire  to  stem  the  downward  current,  led  a  few 
of  the  more  devout  and  earnest  of  our  remaining  associ- 
ates to  propose  the  formation  of  a  church,  distinctively 
so  called,  to  include  those  outside  our  fellowship  as  well 
as  inside  —  all  residents  on  our  former  domain  who  might 
feel  the  embers  of  the  divine  life  burning  in  their  bosom& 
and  be  disposed  by  a  formal  consecration  to  God,  by 
mutual  pledges  and  confessions,  and  by  whatever  help 
could  be  derived  from  associating  together,  to  have  these 
embers  fanned  into  a  vigorous  and  perpetual  flame.  The 
proposition  met  with  considerable  favor  and  measures 
were  taken  to  have  it  carried  into  effect.  I  hoped  less 
from  this  movement  than  some  of  my  brethren  but  lent 
it  my  encouragement,  being  in  no  wise  disposed  to  throw 
cold  water  upon  any  scheme  which  had  in  it  the  least 
promise  of  promoting  the  Christian  culture  of  any  of 
those  resident  within  our  borders,  and  especially  of  our 
young  people  who  were  passing  through  the  formative 
period  of  their  character  and  life.  On  the  29th  of  Janu- 
ary, 1860,  a  church  was  organized,  the  nature,  purpose, 
and  general  tenor  of  which  may  be  inferred  from  the 
following  extracts  from  its  adopted 

"  COMPACT. 

"  In  order  more  effectually  to  promote  our  own  progress  in 
the  Christian  life  as  well  as  th3  extension  of  Practical  Chris- 
tianity among  men,  we,  whose  names  are  hereunto  subscribed,  do 
unite  in  a  Religious  Association,  to  be  called 

THE  PRACTICAL  CHRISTIAN  CHURCH  OF  HOPEDALE. 

"  And  we  do  hereby  pledge  ourselves  to  care  tenderly  for 
each  other's  welfare,  both  temporal  and  spiritual,  and  to- 
endeavor  in  all  things  to  be  to  each  other  true  and  faithful 
brothers  and  sisters  in  Christ  Jesus  our  Lord. 


332  THE   HOPEDALE   COMMUNITY. 

"  Any  person  may  become  a  member  of  this  body  by  a  hearty 
acknowledgment  of  the  following  Declaration,  and  by  conform- 
ing to  such  regulations  as  may  be  established  from  time  to 
time  for  purposes  of  orderly  edification  and  discipline. 

"  DECLARATION. 

"We  believe  that  there  is  one  God,  the  Father,  who  is  the 
author  of  all  beings  and  things;  who  is  infinite  in  Love,  Wis- 
dom, Justice  and  Power;  and  who  is  everywhere  present  both 
to  will  and  to  do  as  a  self-conscious  Spirit. 

"We  believe  that  Jesus  Christ  is  the  son  of  God;  that  the 
Father  ordained  him  to  be  the  saviour  of  the  world;  that  he 
must  reign  till  all  things  be  subdued  unto  him;  and  that  no 
soul  can  be  saved  without  becoming  personally  Christlike  in 
spirit,  conduct  and  character. 

"  Therefore  we  acknowledge  ourselves  imperatively  bound  to 
reverence  the  teachings,  obey  the  precepts,  imitate  the  exam- 
ple, and  cherish  the  spirit  of  Jesus  Christ,  according  to  our 
highest  light  and  ability,  in  all  the  relations  of  life.  And  we 
further  acknowledge  ourselves  imperatively  bound  by  the  pre- 
cepts, example  and  spirit  of  Jesus  Christ  never  intentionally  to 
kill,  oppress  or  harm  any  human  being  even  our  worst  enemy. 

"  This  Church  shall  from  time  to  time  establish  or  permit 
.such  ordinances  as  may  be  deemed  promotive  of  personal  holi- 
ness among  its  members.  Such  ordinances,  however,  shall 
never  be  considered  as  ends  to  be  attained,  but  as,  at  best, 
only  means  of  improvement  and  tokens  of  discipleship;  and 
therefore  their  observance  can  never  be  required  of  any  one 
who  does  not  feel  that  it  would  be  a  privilege;  nor  can  their 
administration  be  denied  to  those,  whether  in  or  out  of  our 
membership,  who  may  sincerely  desire  it." 

This  movement  started  out  promisingly  and  seemed  to 
prosper  for  a  year  or  two,  attaining  a  membership,  if 
my  memory  serves  me,  of  fifty  or  sixty  persons.  But 
predominating  influences  were  against  it,  the  animus  of 
the  place  being  rather  to  acquire  wealth  and  worldly 
-distinction  than  to  seek  the  kingdom  of  God  and  his 
righteousness.  Under  such  untoward  circumstances,  The 
Practical  Christian  Church  of  Hopedale  languished  ere 
long  into  oblivion. 


HOPEDALE  INDUCTIVE  CONFERENCE.  33$ 

The    last    struggling    effort    to    revive    the    Community 
cause    and    turn   back   the   tide   of    events   towards   those 
objects  and  aims  which  inspired  us    at   the   beginning   of 
our    career    and    prompted   the    labors    and    sacrifices    of 
those  early  days,  was  the  formation  of   what  was  known 
as    The   Hopedale    Inductive    Conference.     This   was    fash- 
ioned   somewhat    after   the    plan    heretofore    outlined    and 
adopted    many    years    before    by    our    friends    in    certain, 
favorable  localities  elsewhere.     It  was  organized  Sept.  26,. 
1861,  and  entered  at  once  upon  the  work  of   indoctrina- 
tion,   unification,    and    consolidation    it  was    designed    to 
accomplish.     It   held   regular   weekly  meetings,   the    exer- 
cises of  which  were  conducted  agreeably  to  a  definite  and 
carefully  arranged  system,  devised  and  elaborated  by  me, 
and  published  the  following  year  under   the   general   title 
of  u  MONITORIAL  GUIDE;  For  the  use  of  Inductive  Confer- 
ences, Communities,  etc."     It  was  of  a  liturgical  character, 
and  was    designed,    as    may    be    inferred,    to    aid    in    the 
intellectual,   moral,   and   spiritual   quickening    and   culture 
of  both  youth  and  adults  in  the  principles  and  objects  of 
The  Practical  Christian  Republic,  preparatory  to  practical 
efforts  in  behalf  of   the  system  of   society  represented  by 
that  comprehensive  name.     Its    merits  were    satisfactorily 
tested  by  several  years'  experience  in  our  Inductive  Con- 
ference, which,  running   well   during   that  period,  was    at 
length,  for  want  of  interested,  hearty,  persistent  co-opera- 
tion, indefinitely  suspended  at  the  close  of  the  year  1867. 
The  end   of    the   Community  was   now  at   hand.     That 
consummation  was  hastened  by  the  formation  of  what  was 
called   The  Hopedale  Parish;  a  name  which  the  organiza- 
tion still  bears.     The  reason  for  this  new  movement   can 
be    briefly    stated    and    easily    apprehended.      With     the 
advance   of    time    the   disproportion   between   the   number 
of   Community    members   resident    at   Hopedale   and   non- 
members    had    so    greatly   increased    that  the  latter   were 
largely  in  the  majority.     And  yet  they  had  no  voice  what- 


334  THE  HOPEDALE   COMMUNITY. 

ever  in  the  management  of  matters  pertaining  to  the 
activities  and  institutions  of  religion,  in  which  they  took 
more  or  less  interest,  and  for  the  maintenance  of  which 
they  were  year  by  year  asked  to  contribute.  There  was 
an  inequality  in  this  which  arrested  attention  —  a  wrong 
which  the  common  moral  judgment  recognized  and  affirmed 
ought  to  be  righted. 

Measures  were  therefore  initiated  looking  to  some 
change  in  the  administration  of  religious  affairs  whereby 
all  the  people  of  the  village  —  at  least  all  who  had  any 
care  or  concern  in  regard  to  such  affairs  —  should  have 
the  right  and  opportunity  of  co-operating  on  equal  terms 
with  each  other  in  the  superintendence  and  control  of 
them.  These,  after  due  deliberation  and  consultation  with 
all  parties  interested,  resulted  in  the  organization  on  the 
27th  of  October,  1867,  of  an  association  bearing  the 
before  mentioned  name,  under  a  Constitution  setting  forth 
its  origin,  its  relations  to  the  Community,  its  functions, 
and  general  mode  of  administration.  This  instrument, 
though  quite  unlike  that  upon  which  our  movement  was 
based,  had  in  it  nothing  essentially  hostile  to  its  spirit  or 
prescriptive  requirements,  and  cduld  therefore  be  approved 
,and  supported  by  our  remaining  members  without  falsify- 
ing any  of  their  previous  professions  or  avowals.  It  had 
a  flavor  of  religion  about  it,  but  contained  no  creed, 
confession  of  faith,  or  declaration  of  principles,  required 
no  promises  from  those  subscribing  it,  and  imposed  upon 
them  no  moral  and  religious  obligations  —  not  even  the 
obligation  to  lead  an  orderly,  upright,  humane,  Christian 
life ;  every  one  being  left  free  to  think,  believe,  and  act 
according  to  the  dictates  of  his  or  her  own  individual 
reason  and  conscience.  It  simply  claimed  to  establish  a 
Liberal  Christian  Society,  to  be  called  The  Hopedale 
Parish,  composed  of  those  resident  in  the  village  who 
were  willing  "to  co-operate,  to  a  greater  or  less  extent, 
in  supporting  public  worship,  religious  meetings,  a  Sunday 


ORGANIZATION   OF   THE   HOPEDALE  PARISH.          335 

school,  sacred  music  and  other  instrumentalities  for  the 
promotion  of  moral  order  in  the  neighborhood."  This 
new  body,  which  three  mouths  later,  with  myself  as  Pastor, 
was  admitted  to  "The  Worcester  Conference  of  Congre- 
gational (Unitarian)  and  other  Christian  Societies,"  entered 
directly  upon  the  execution  of  its  proper  work,  the  respon- 
sibilities and  duties  of  which  were  cheerfully  transmitted 
to  it  by  the  Community,  and  as  cheerfully  assumed  on 
its  part.  The  formal  act  of  transmission  took  place  at 
the  Annual  Community  Meeting  held  Jan.  8.  1868,  the 
record  of  which  reads  thus  : 

"  Whereas,  the  inhabitants  of  Hopedale  have  recently  formed 
a  Liberal  Christian  Society,  entitled  The  Hopedale  Parish,  under 
a  Constitution  which  declares  the  same  to  be  in  general  har- 
mony with  this  Community,  particularly  in  respect  to  '  support- 
ing public  worship,  religious  meetings,  the  Sunday  School, 
sacred  music,  and  other  instrumentalities  for  the  promotion  of 
moral  order  in  the  neighborhood ' ;  and  whereas,  said  Constitu- 
tion pledges  said  Parish  to  exercise  all  its  powers,  rights  and 
privileges  in  friendly  concurrence  and  co-operation  with  this 
Community  in  the  respects  aforesaid,  and  never  to  make  any 
Constitutional  changes  unfriendly  to  our  organization;  and 
whereas,  with  the  general  consent  of  our  resident  members, 
who  are  also  members  of  the  said  Parish,  it  has  accepted  the 
responsibility  of  managing  the  principal  parochial  affairs  here- 
tofore in  charge  of  this  Community —  all  of  which  fully  appears 
in  the  Parish  records:  — 

"Now,  therefore,  be  it  Resolved  and  Declared  by  the  Hope- 
dale  Community  in  regular  meeting  assembled,  that  we  fully 
assent  to,  approve  of,  and  sanction  the  formation,  organization, 
proceedings  and  measures  thus  far  of  the  said  Hopedale  Parish. 

"And  be  it  further  Resolved  and  Declared  that,  so  long  as 
The  Hopedale  Parish  shall  discharge  the  parochial  responsibili- 
ties it  has  accepted  in  general  harmony  with  the  fundamental 
principles  of  this  Community  and  according  to  its  constitu- 
tional pledges,  this  Community  will  not  interfere  with  its 
management  of  parochial  affairs  but  quietly  acquiesce  in  the 
same.  Provided,  nevertheless,  that  nothing  herein  contained 
shall  in  any  way  debar  the  Community  from  exercising  its 


336  THE   HOPEDALE   COMMUNITY. 

right  to  advise  or  remonstrate,  as  a  co-ordinate  body  with  said 
Parish,  in  respect  to  any  future  measure  which  may  seem  to 
require  Community  intervention. 

"  Passed  in  regular  Community  meeting  this  8th  day  of 
January,  1868. 

"Attest:  E.  D.  DRAPER,  Moderator. 

"J.  L.  HEYWOOD,  Recorder." 

This  was  the  last  recorded  act  of  The  Hopedale  Com- 
munity in  regular  meeting  assembled,  and  with  it  the 
Community  may  be  regarded  as  passing  into  a  state  of 
innocuous  desuetude  and  becoming  only  a  memory  of  bygone 
times.  There  had  been  chosen  at  a  previous  stage  of 
this  same  meeting  the  usual  official  servants,  but  all  occa- 
sion for  action  on  their  part  had  ceased  and  they  had  no 
successors.  The  Community,  as  such,  now  became  utterly 
and  forever  extinct.  Some  six  years  afterward,  Dec.  15, 
1873,  its  Real  Estate  Trustees,  a  permanent  Board  of 
Officers  and  the  only  surviving  representative  of  the  parent 
body,  transferred,  as  stated  on  page  307,  all  right,  title, 
interest,  and  control  in,  unto,  and  over  its  remaining 
territorial  posessions  to  the  Trustees  of  The  Hopedale 
Parish;  and  two  years  later,  Dec.  7,  1875,  passed  into 
the  same  hands  the  balance  of  the  so-called  Soward  Fund, 
which  many  years  before  had  been  donated  by  our  esteemed 
and  faithful  brother,  Edmund  Soward,  for  the  purpose  of 
promoting  the  mental  and  moral  improvement  of  the  chil- 
dren and  youth  of  the  Community  and  village  through  the 
agency  of  the  Sunday  School  Library.  According  to  the 
conditions  upon  which  this  gift  was  made,  only  the  income 
derived  from  it  could  be  expended  from  year  to  yeai\ 
and  it  had  been  held  in  trust  subject  to  that  restriction ; 
it  was  put  into  the  keeping  of  its  new  custodians  charged 
with  the  same  inhibition.  Thus  all  transactions  pertaining 
to  the  affairs  of  the  Community  were  brought  to  an  end, 
and  the  very  name  of  our  Hopedale  movement  became 
thenceforth  only  a  historical  designation. 


CHAPTER    X. 

FOUNDERS    OF    THE    COMMUNITY — MEMBERS    GENERALLY  — 
ACHIEVEMENTS  —  PRIMAL  CAUSE  OF  FAILURE — SUBOR- 
DINATE CAUSES  —  THE  HOPEDALE  IDEAL  — 
ITS  FUTURE  REALIZATION. 

THE  opening  paragraphs  of  this,  the  last  Chapter  of 
the  History  of  the  Hopedale  Community,  will  briefly 
recount  the  more  notable  facts  and  features  of  our  diver- 
sified experience  in  the  new  order  of  society  we  undertook 
to  establish,  as  a  prelude  to  an  exposition  of  the  defects 
and  weaknesses  of  the  enterprise,  and  especially  of  the 
cause  or  causes  of  its  ultimate  failure.  During  the  twenty 
years  that  have  transpired  since  it  suffered  the  fatal  blow 
that  sealed  its  doom,  I  have  had  time  to  review  the  whole 
matter  with  painstaking  and  prayerful  deliberation,  which 
lias  resulted  in  the  recasting  of  some  of  my  previous 
hastily  formed  opinions,  and  in  reaching  conclusions  that 
I  desire  to  put  on  record  for  posterity  as  my  final  verdict 
in  the  case.  A  rapid  survey  of  the  field  whereon  we 
toiled  and  suffered,  won  victories  and  sustained  defeats, 
rejoiced  and  lamented,  will  aid  me  in  carrying  my  purpose 
in  this  regard  into  effect. 

The  founders  of  The  Hopedale  Community,  as  has  been 
already  shown,  were  so-called  Independent  Restorationists 
in  speculative  theology,  and  universal  moral  Reformers  in 
respect  to  the  application  of  religious  truth  to  human  life 
in  its  various  departments,  relations,  and  manifestations. 
They  believed  in  the  Fatherhood  of  God  and  the  Brother- 
hood of  Man,  and  in  the  principles  and  precepts  of  the 

22 


338  THE   HOPEDALE   COMMUNITY. 

New  Testament  as  taught  and  exemplified  by  Jesus  Christ. 
They  were  animated  by  a  rational  and  devout  ambition 
to  hold  their  faith,  not  merely  as  a  dogmatic  statement, 
or  an  intellectual  conception,  or  a  passional  sentiment  or 
emotion,  but  as  the  rule  and  the  inspiration  of  life  —  as 
the  power  of  a  renewed  personal  character  and  the  incen- 
tive to,  and  basis  for,  a  divinely  ordered  form  of  human 
society.  To  their  apprehension  theory  ought  to  be  exem- 
plified in  practice,  and  the  principles  and  spirit  of  Chris- 
tianity should  have  illustration  in,  as  they  were  deemed 
applicable  to,  all  human  interests  and  concerns ;  social  and 
civil  as  well  as  individual.  This  view  characterized  their 
thought  and  directed  their  career.  Their  premises  and 
conclusion  were  to  their  minds  indissolubly  related  and 
invulnerable  to  just  criticism.  If  God  were  their  Father, 
they  were  to  live  before  him  and  with  each  other  as  rev- 
erent, dutiful,  trusting  children.  If  all  men  were  their 
brethren,  they  were  under  sacred  obligations  to  love  them 
and  do  them  good ;  nay,  more,  all  injustice,  hatred,  vin- 
dictiveness,  cruelty,  oppression,  violence,  wrath,  and  war 
was  wrong  and  ought  to  be  overcome  and  put  forever 
away ;  and  they  were  in  duty  bound  to  pray  and  labor  to 
secure  that  important  consummation.  They  ought,  more- 
over, to  espouse  and  do  what  they  could  to  advance  every 
good  cause,  to  aid  every  movement  calculated  to  benefit 
and  bless  mankind.  If  Christianity  were  a  divine  religion, 
charged  with  that  truth  and  grace  which  are  commissioned 
of  God  to  redeem  the  world  from  sin  and  bring  in  the 
reign  of  universal  righteousness,  then  it  should  control  all 
human  action ;  and  the  habits,  practices,  and  customs  of 
men — -their  institutions,  laws,  and  systems,  whatever  their 
name  and  by  whomsoever  maintained,  repugnant  to  it, 
should  be  renounced  and  abandoned,  and  the  whole  com- 
plex order  of  society,  in  its  unfraternal  and  unchristian 
features,  should  be  reconstructed  and  made  to  conform  to 
and  represent  its  holy  requirements.  In  case  this  could 


CHARACTER   OF   COMMUNITY   MEMBERSHIP.  339 

not  be  done,  by  reason  of  the  ignorance,  moral  incom- 
peteucy,  or  uucbristianized  will  of  those  by  whose  agency 
these  things  were  practised,  upheld,  and  perpetuated,  under 
the  existing  social  system,  then  it  became  the  true  fol- 
lowers of  the  Nazareue  to  join  hands,  hearts,  and  all 
possible  active  efforts  for  the  work  of  building  a  new 
system  from  the  foundations  upward,  which  should  be  in 
harmony  with  the  Master's  teachings  and  stand  before 
men  and  angels  as  the  type  and  imperfect,  because  human, 
realization  of  that  kingdom  of  heaven  which  he  came  to 
establish  upon  the  earth.  Under  the  power  and  inspira- 
tion of  such  logic,  which  to  them  was  incontrovertible,  the 
founders  of  The  Hopedale  Community  entered  upon  their 
work;  under  the  same  power  and  inspiration  did  they 
and  their  later  associates  and  successors  prosecute  it  to 
the  end. 

The  membership  of  the  Community  during  its  entire 
existence  was  composed  of  men  and  women  belonging 
to  the  more  substantial,  self-respecting  middle  class  of 
American  society  —  the  rank  and  file  of  the  American 
people.  It  included,  first  and  last,  six  or  eight  ordained 
ministers  of  the  Gospel,  two  experienced  and  skillful 
physicians,  several  well-equipped  and  competent  teachers 
in  the  various  branches  of  useful  knowledge,  writers  for 
religious  and  reformatory  journals,  platform  speakers, 
conference  room  exhorters.  together  with  numerous  farm- 
ers, gardeners,  carpenters,  machinists  and  a  goodly  num- 
ber of  other  handicraftsmen  —  a  plain,  common  sense, 
intelligent,  high-minded  population.  As  a  whole,  we  were 
in  no  proper  sense  such  a  set  of  visionary  dreamers, 
deluded  fanatics,  restless  impracticable s,  and  thriftless 
incompetents,  needing  a  guardian  or  some  master  spirit 
to  take  pity  on  us  and  save  us  from  our  own  folly  and 
imbecility,  as  has  sometimes  been  represented  by  certain 
orators  and  authors,  who  seemed  more  desirious  of  depre- 
ciating us  and  our  labors,  sacrifices  and  achievements, 


340  THE   HOPEDALE   COMMUNITY. 

than  of  telling  the  truth  about  us  and  doing  exact  justice 
to  us  and  our  cause.  To  be  sure,  there  were  now  and 
then  persons  who  came  to  us  from  selfish  and  unworthy 
motives,  seeking  an  easy  place  for  themselves  and  a 
supply  for  their  own  and  their  family's  needs  which  they 
were  too  indolent  and  shiftless  to  earn  elsewhere.  To  be 
sure,  we  were  beset  by  a  great  variety  of  visitors,  good, 
bad,  and  indifferent,  hailing  from  far  and  near,  profess- 
ing a  friendship  for  us  and  our  movement;  not  infre- 
quently claiming  to  be  philanthropists  and  reformers  par 
excellence,  and  bringing  with  them,  it  may  be,  some  special 
device  for  bettering  the  condition  of  world  —  some  new 
panacea  for  one  or  more  of  the  manifold  ills  which  human- 
ity is  heir  to,  —  the  crudest  follies  or  impracticabilities 
perhaps.  But  few  of  either  class  ever  gained  an  entrance 
within  the  pale  of  our  organic  fellowship ;  or,  if  they  did, 
were  soon  convinced  that  they  were  out  of  place  and  vol- 
untarily retired,  never  attaining  any  appreciable  influence 
in  shaping  our  polity  or  in  the  systematic  management  of 
any  of  our  affairs.  Follies  no  doubt  we  had  and  defects, 
whereof  we  had  reason  to  be  ashamed  and  repentant,  but 
they  were  not  of  the  sort  alleged.  If  we  were  in  any  sense 
dreamers  and  visionaries,  an  imputation  we  were  never 
disposed  to  take  offence  at  or  deny,  we  were  only  such 
as  Jesus  Christ  and  his  Apostles  were  and  taught  us  to- 
be,  when  they  pictured  to  us  a  kingdom  of  righteousness, 
peace  and  joy  for  which  we  should  pray,  a  coming  reign 
of  equity  and  brotherhood  which  we  should  seek  to  inau- 
gurate, under  whose  benignant  sway 

"All  crime  shall  cease  and  ancient  fraud  shall  fail, 
Returning  justice  lift  aloft  her  scale; 
Peace  o'er  the  world  her  olive  wand  extend, 
And  white-robed  innocence  from  heaven  descend." 

As  a  matter  of  fact,  no  one  who  knew  us  and  was 
disposed  to  be  just  towards  us  could  deny  that,  with  the 
rare  exceptions  alluded  to,  we  were  a  most  practical r 


NO   FOOLISH   AND    WICKED   EXPENDITURES.          341 

self-supporting  company,  industrious,  ecomomical,  hus- 
banding well  our  resources,  and  putting  our  means  to 
good  uses.  Not  a  dollar  was  expended  by  us  for  intoxi- 
cating liquor,  for  enervating  pleasure,  or  pernicious 
amusement.  Bad  habits,  always  more  or  less  costly, 
were  under  proscription,  and  for  the  most  part  absolutely 
prohibited.  Even  tobacco,  when  previously  used,  was 
laid  aside  by  those  entering  our  membership,  one  person 
only  continuing  the  indulgence,  and  that  after  repeated 
ineffectual  attempts  to  overcome  the  appetite.  We  spent 
nothing  on  military  trappings  or  displays ;  nothing  on 
spectacular  and  boisterous  demonstrations  of  any  sort ; 
nothing  on  political  manceuvreiug  or  masquerade ;  nothing 
on  police  supervision  or  litigation  —  no  occasion  for  the 
former  ever  existing  and  all  differences  or  controversies 
Among  ourselves  or  with  our  neighbors  being  settled  by 
-amicable  conference  or  peaceful  arbitration.  As  to  con- 
stables, sheriffs,  criminal  prosecutions,  or  court  proceed- 
ings outside  of  simple  probate  concerns,  we  had  no  use 
for  them. 

But  it  was  not  our  chief  ambition  or  desire  to  earn 
and  save  money  for  our  own  necessity,  comfort,  enrich- 
ment, or  exaltation,  with  no  thought  or  regard  for  the 
acquisition  of  those  riches  of  the  heart  and  soul  which 
are  an  eternal  possession,  or  for  the  contribution  we 
-could  make  for  the  promotion  of  the  welfare  of  our 
fellowmeu.  Our  chief  labor  was  "not  for  the  meat  that 
perisheth  but  for  that  which  endureth  unto  everlasting 
life."  We  sought  first  "the  kingdom  of  God  and  his 
righteousnes."  We  were,  I  repeat,  a  sincerely  and  ear- 
nestly religious  people :  not  on  the  ground  of  escaping 
the  merciless  inflictions  of  an  Almighty  avenger  after 
<leath,  or  of  gaining  some  exceeding  great  reward  in  a 
future  endless  heaven;  but  in  order  to  escape  the  evils 
and  consequences  of  sin  both  in  this  world  and  in  the 
world  to  come,  and  to  secure  by  right-doing  the  benefits 


342  THE   HOPEDALE   COMMUNITY. 

and  blessings  of  a  heavenly  inheritance  here  as  well  as 
hereafter ;  and  not  only  for  ourselves  but  for  others,  to- 
the  utmost  extent  possible.  Pursuant  to  this  predominat- 
ing purpose,  we  maintained  the  institutions  and  appliance* 
of  moral  and  spiritual  culture  and  inspiration  with  scru- 
pulous fidelity  at  home ;  we  sent  missionaries  out  into  the 
surrounding  world  to  preach  the  Gospel  of  Chirst  as  we 
understood  and  applied  it,  calling  men  to  repentance  for 
their  follies  and  sins  and  to  the  new  life  of  love  to 
God  and  man  which  that  Gospel  required ;  we  also  created 
a  literature  of  our  own,  expository  of  our  interpretations 
and  applications  of  divine  truth,  and  distributed  it  far 
and  wide  in  all  directions,  as  an  effective  instrumentality 
of  human  enlightenment  and  redemption.  All  this  cost 
time,  thought,  effort,  money — was  a  continual  draft  upon 
the  varied  resources  at  our  command. 

Nor  were  these  the  only  contributions  we  made  for  the 
good  and  happiness  of  our  kind.  As  Abolitionists  we 
were  not  only  called  upon  for  financial  aid  in  carrying 
on  the  general  warfare  against  the  giant  iniquity  of 
American  slavery,  but  had  frequent  occasion  to  extend 
our  hospitality  to  the  apostles  and  champions  of  free- 
dom going  up  and  down  the  land  preaching  deliverance 
to  the  bondmen,  and  to  furnish  food,  clothing,  and  shelter 
to  some  poor  fellow-human  being  fleeing  as  for  his  very 
life  from  the  clutch  of  the  oppressor  and  making  an 
appeal  to  us  for  help.  As  Temperance  people  we  not 
only  gave  to  the  treasury  of  that  movement,  but  received 
again  and  again  to  our  care,  protection,  and  uplifting 
influence  the  broken-down  victims  of  the  inebriating  bowl> 
sent  us  by  friends  or  coming  of  their  own  accord  to  find 
within  our  borders  a  refuge  from  temptation,  as  also 
encouragement  and  aid  to  reformation.  Other  good  causes, 
in  their  time  and  turn  made  their  appeals  to  us  for  money 
or  other  means  of  promotion,  nor  ever  made  them  in  vain. 
Our  reputation  for  kindness  and  charity  in  the  general 


A    SELF-SUPPORTING,   BENEVOLENT  POPULATION.     343 

neighborhood  about  us  brought  us  many  a  supplicant  for 
alms,  no  one  of  whom  was  turned  coldly  away.  We  had 
advertised  our  Community  extensively  and  were  visited  by 
professed  inquirers,  friends  of  social  reconstruction,  and 
others,  from  different  parts  of  the  country,  to  all  of 
whom  we  offered  entertainment  for  days  and  weeks  some- 
times, usually  without  pecuniary  return  —  occasionally  with 
sharp  criticism  and  cheap  advice  as  a  recompense.  Taking 
all  things  into  account,  it  may  be  reasonably  questioned 
whether  any  equal  population  in  the  country  of  corre- 
sponding pecuniary  means  gave,  during  the  period  of  our 
Community's  existence,  a  tithe  of  what  we  did  for  relig- 
ious, philanthropic,  and  reformatory  purposes  and  objects, 
outside  of  its  own  distinctive  boundaries. 

Moreover,  for  several  years  we  educated  our  children  at 
our  own  expense,  never  receiving  a  dollar  from  the  town 
of  Milford  though  we  paid  taxes  continually  into  its 
treasury ;  and  through  all  our  history  the  amount  thus 
contributed  to  its  resources  year  by  year  was  hundreds 
and  thousands  of  dollars  in  excess  of  what  was  returned 
to  us  under  any  and  every  form  of  expenditure  in  our 
behalf  or  re-imbursement  whatsoever.  And  yet  we  never 
made  a  single  pauper  or  criminal  whereby  the  town  was 
put  to  the  least  trouble  or  cost,  or  caused  it  to  use  any 
of  its  funds  for  the  relief  of  any  of  our  own  poor,  for 
police  surveillance  and  protection,  or  for  municipal  inter- 
position and  action  of  any  sort.  The  Community  was 
composed  of  not  simply  a  busy,  thrifty,  self-subsisting 
class  of  people,  but  one  eminently  large-hearted  and 
benevolent,  their  frequent  and  generous  donations  and 
their  open-handed,  ungrudging  hospitality  testifying  to 
their  enterprise,  practicality,  and  power  of  production. 

Further  testimony  to  the  same  effect  may  be  found  in 
a  brief  statement  of  what  was  actually  accomplished  by 
The  Hopedale  Community  during  the  fourteen  years  in 
which  it  was  master  of  the  situation  and  exercised  supreme 


344  THE   HOPEDALE   COMMUNITY. 

and  undivided  control  over  all  industrial  and  business 
affairs  within  its  recognized  jurisdiction.  It  was  organ- 
ized under  the  name  of  Fraternal  Community  No.  1  at 
Mendon,  Mass.,  Jan.  28,  1841.  The  number  of  original 
members  was  32,  to  which  there  were  added  by  subse- 
quent admissions  and  at  indeterminate  intervals,  165, 
making  the  entire  membership,  196.  Of  these  there  are 
left  nominally  associated  together  at  this  time  of  writing 
(1876),  about  35,  only  14  of  whom  continue  to  reside  on  its 
former  domain ;  the  others  who  are  still  living  being  scat- 
tered far  and  wide  over  the  country.  The  first  purchase 
of  lands  at  Hopedale  for  its  occupancy  and  use  was 
effected  June  30,  1841,  and  consisted  of  what  was  known 
as  "The  Jones'  Farm,"  containing  258  acres.  Later  addi- 
tions from  time  to  time,  which  included  two  adjacent  farms 
and  other  contiguous  territory,  increased  the  aggregate 
extent  of  its  domain  to  nearly  or  quite  600  acres,  com- 
prising the  village  site,  horticultural  grounds,  orchards, 
farming  fields,  wood  and  meadow  lots,  mill-ponds,  thorough- 
fares, etc.  The  earliest  settlement  on  our  territory  was 
made  sometime  in  October,  1841.  by  a  family  of  five 
persons.  In  the  latter  part  of  the  following  March, 
at  which  date  operations  actually  began,  there  was  a 
colony  of  seven  families  on  the  premises,  numbering 
twenty-eight  persons.  The  population,  including  mem- 
bers, probationers,  dependents,  employes,  and  permitted 
residents,  multiplied  by  gradual  accessions  until  at  the 
time  of  the  surrender  in  1856,  it  aggregated  some  three 
hundred. 

The  first  Joint-Stock  property  of  the  Association  actu- 
ally in  hand  was  $100.00 ;  at  the  time  of  settlement  in 
the  spring  of  1842,  it  was  $4,000.00.  It  increased  from 
3^ear  to  year  until  it  exceeded  $40,000.00.  The  property 
of  individual  members  of  the  Community  was  estimated  to 
begin  with  at  about  $10,000.00;  it  was  not  less  than 
$90,000.00  when  the  dissolution  took  place. 


IMPROVEMENT   OF   COMMUNITY   DOMAIN.  345 

The  Community  entered  upon  its  career  on  a  much  run 
down  estate,  in  a  single  ancient  farm-house,  with  two 
-dilapidated  barns  and  several  outbuildings  in  similar  con- 
dition; access  to  and  egress  from  which  were  obtained 
over  narrow,  crooked,  uneven,  wretchedly  built  high- 
ways ;  —  it  left  that  estate  and  the  accessions  to  it  in 
excellent  condition  for  agricultural  and  horticultural  pur- 
poses, and  made  the  center  of  its  population  and  activities 
a  neat  village  of  some  fifty  pleasant  dwellings,  located 
amid  gardens,  orchards,  shade-trees,  shrubbery,  and  flow- 
ers, upon  carefully  laid  out  and  well-constructed  streets, 
with  substantial  manufacturing  establishments  along  its 
western  border  —  one  of  the  neatest,  most  quiet,  beautiful, 
charming  little  hamlets  in  the  Commonwealth  of  Massa- 
chusetts. A  most  desirable,  highly  prized,  promising 
possession  it  was  to  us,  purchased  for  and  consecrated 
to  disinterested,  philanthropic,  noble  uses  and  objects, 
preserved,  enriched,  embellished  by  us,  as  the  seat  and 
center  of  a  great  movement  for  the  bettering  of  the  world ; 
but  which,  by  force  of  adverse  circumstances  and  condi- 
tions, we  were  compelled  to  convey  to  our  successors, 
to  become  under  their  skillful  management  the  theatre  and 
vantage  ground  whereon  to  gain  wealth,  social  distinction, 
political  honor,  and  other  like  emoluments  and  rewards. 
The  story  of  its  varied  experiences,  joyous  and  sad,  of  its 
struggles  and  attainments,  of  its  victories  and  defeats,  the 
Community  now  bequeaths  to  coming  generations,  that  the 
wise  and  good  and  true  belonging  to  them  may  be  instructed 
by  its  lessons,  and  perad venture  helped  to  achieve,  on 
kindred  but  not  necessarily  identical  lines  of  effort,  far 
larger,  nobler,  and  more  enduring  results  in  the  same 
beneficent  and  blessed  behalf. 

Yes,  we  failed.  Failed  just  as  we  had  attained  an 
apparently  praiseworthy  and  permanent  success ;  just  as 
we  were  feeling  assured  that  we  had  overcome  our  most 
serious  difficulties,  surmounted  our  greatest  obstacles,  van- 


346  THE   HOPEDALE   COMMUNITY 

quished  our  most  obdurate  foes,  and  were  beyond  the 
reach  of  peril ;  just  as  we  had  planned  and  were  begin- 
ning to  put  into  execution  schemes  of  colonization  and 
programmes' for  founding  new  communities  —  offshoots  of 
ours  —  in  some  of  the  more  attractive  and  promising 
sections  of  our  great  country.  And  our  failure  being  a 
confessed  fact,  it  is  both  desirable  and  important  to 
understand  the  nature  of  that  failure  —  the  causes  that 
led  to  it  and  the  reasons  why  it  transpired.  To  the  solu- 
tion of  that  problem  the  concluding  pages  of  this  volume 
will  be  chiefly  devoted. 

And  the  point  which  first  demands  consideration  is  that 
involved  in  the  inquiry  whether  or  not  our  discomfiture  — 
the  defeat  of  all  our  plans  and  hopes  is  to  be  regarded 
in  any  proper  sense  as  a  financial  or  business  disaster; 
or  in  other  words  whether  or  not  it  was  primarily  and 
essentially  due  to  a  lack  of  business  capacity  on  our  part 
and  to  the  special  pecuniary  straits  in  which  we  found 
ourselves  at  the  opening  of  the  year  1856.  Had  the 
Community  become  bankrupt,  as  the  saying  is,  and  was 
it  compelled  to  stop  operations  in  order  to  meet  its 
pecuniary  obligations  and  satisfy  its  creditors?  By  no- 
means.  No  one  who  knew  the  exact  status  of  our  several 
industries,  the  condition  of  our  treasury,  and  our  standing 
in  the  business  world  at  the  time,  would  decide  the  ques- 
tion affirmatively.  Nor  would  any  one  familiar  with  our 
industrial  and  financial  history  from  the  beginning  as  it 
has  been  outlined  on  the  preceding  pages.  Notable  facts 
of  that  history  having  a  definite  bearing  upon  the  matter 
may  be  formally  recapitulated.  1.  Our  Joint-Stock  invest- 
ment at  the  time  of  the  suspension  of  our  consolidated- 
activities  was,  as  stated,  more  than  $40,000.00,  while 
our  individual  property  was  about  $90,000.00;  nearly  all 
of  which  had  been  produced  on  our  own  territory  since 
we  first  occupied  it.  2.  The  Joint-Stock  had  never  depre- 
ciated in  value  but  remained  at  par  from  the  beginning ; 


NOT   A   FINANCIAL   FAILURE.  347 

not  a  share  having  ever  been  sold,  transferred,  or  surren- 
dered for  one  cent  less.  The  final  disposal  of  it  was  on 
that  basis,  and  not  a  single  person  ever  suffered  loss  by 
having  it  in  his  possession.  3.  For  the  greater  part  of 
the  time  the  entire  list  of  stockholders  received  the  stipu- 
lated four  per  cent,  interest  on  their  money,  and  outside 
parties  always.  4.  Every  dollar  of  the  Community  indebt- 
edness from  first  to  last  was  honorably  paid  and  our  credit 
wherever  we  were  known  was  never  impeached  or  ques- 
tioned. 5.  The  members,  probationers,  and  dependents 
of  the  Community  were  able  to  secure  under  its  manage- 
ment or  by  industries  which  it  established  or  sanctioned 
upon  its  territory,  a  comfortable  home,  means  of  subsist- 
ence, and  an  adequate  supply  for  all  the  material  needs 
of  themselves  and  families ;  with  money  besides  for  intel- 
lectual, moral,  and  religious  culture  and  for  benevolent 
uses,  while  most  of  them  realized  an  increase  of  individ- 
ual property ;  the  whole  of  such  increase  amounting  to 
$80,000.00;  or  an  average  of  about  $2,000.00  for  every 
household  in  our  membership.  6.  The  reported  deficit  at 
the  time  of  suspension  was  less  than  $2,000.00 ;  reckoning 
actual  depreciation  of  property,  losses  incurred,  etc.,  it 
might  have  amounted  to  $10,000.00  or  $12,000.00.  But 
what  was  that  compared  with  the  average  losses  of  the 
business  world,  where,  as  carefully  prepared  statistics 
prove,  more  than  90  per  cent,  of  the  enterprises  and 
ventures  result  in  bankruptcy?  The  deficits  incurred  by 
an  equal  population  with  ours  engaged  in  similar  kinds 
of  industry  for  the  same  length  of  time,  under  ordinary 
circumstances,  are  far  greater  than  we  experienced.  Sev- 
eral persons  once  in  our  membership  and  living  comfort- 
ably, with  gradually  accumulating  means  while  with  us, 
sunk  more  in  ten  years  after  leaving  than  we  all  together 
did  in  fourteen,  and  in  one  instance  six  or  eight  times 
as  much.  7.  Again,  the  great  majority  of  our  people, 
both  managers  and  common  workmen,  gained  under  our 


348  THE   HOPEDALE   COMMUNITY. 

regime  such  habits  of  industry  and  frugality,  such  lessons 
in  handicraft  and  financiering,  such  development  of  pro- 
ductive ability,  as  enabled  them  to  become  more  inde- 
pendent and  successful  from  a  secular  point  of  view 
after  Community  administration  was  given  up  than  they 
were  before  or  probably  would  subsequently  have  been 
without  that  experience.  They  were  therefore  on  this 
ground  gainers  rather  than  losers  by  the  Community,  to 
say  nothing  of  the  superior  intellectual,  moral,  social,  and 
religious  advantages  which,  under  its  wise  and  generous 
provision,  they  were  privileged  to  share.  8.  Finally,  it 
is  to  be  noted  that  the  successors  of  the  Community  in 
the  ownership  and  management  of  business  affairs,  on 
the  foundation  which  the  Community  laid  and  with  the 
facilities  which  the  Community  had  provided  and  passed 
over  to  them,  proceeded  at  once,  without  disaster  or 
serious  hindrance,  to  build  up  a  fortune  that  in  a  few 
years  far  exceeded  the  wildest  fancies  of  any  of  our 
dreamers  in  that  direction  and  would  have  been  deemed 
<x)llossal  by  all  of  us —  would,  in  fact,  have  placed  us 
on  sure  foundations  and  beyond  all  danger  in  that  par- 
ticular. Taking  all  these  things  into  account  it  is  made 
to  appear  that  our  failure  was  not  like  that  which  so 
often  occurs  in  business  circles  —  not  like  that  of  most 
of  our  contemporary  social  experiments,  a  financial  one  — 
was  not  caused  by  a  lack  of  business  capacity  among  us, 
or  by  the  pecuniary  exigencies  and  embarrassments  to 
which  we  had  been  brought  in  the  conduct  of  our  affairs. 
What  then  did  produce  the  fatal  crisis?  Why  was  it 
deemed  necessary  to  suspend  the  operations  of  our  com- 
bined industry,  surrender  our  Joint- Stock  holdings,  and 
dissolve  our  peculiar  associated  relations,  going  back  to 
the  assumption  of  strictly  individual  interests  and  respon- 
sibilities, to  the  old  competitive,  unfraternal,  unchristian 
business  methods  and  to  the  long-established  usages,  max- 
ims, customs,  and  institutions  of  the  world  at  large?  It 


THE   WORLD   NOT  READY   FOR   IT.  349- 

was  because,  as  a  whole,  we  lacked  the  Christlike  wisdom 
and  virtue  necessary  to  the  successful  prosecution  and  final) 
triumph  of  such  an  undertaking,  —  those  qualities  of  mind, 
heart,  and  character,  without  which  any  comprehensive, 
all-sided  movement  for  the  individual  and  social  uplifting 
of  humanity  —  any  organized  attempt  to  realize  the  divine 
kingdom  on  the  earth  in  a  radical  form,  must,  in  the  nature 
of  the  case,  prove  abortive.  Our  experiment  was  born; 
out  of  due  time.  It  was  scores  and  perhaps  hundreds  of 
years  ahead  of  the  age  in  which  it  was  put  on  trial. 
The  world,  even  the  best  part  of  the  world,  was  not 
ready  for  it  —  was  not  at  the  stage  of  moral  and  spiritual 
development  in  which  it  could  understand,  appreciate  and 
supply  the  appropriate  atmosphere  for  a  work  so  thorough, 
so  all-embracing,  so  superior  to  all  the  ordinary  aspirations 
and  ambitions  of  men,  so  antagonistic  to  the  selfishness, 
pride,  arrogance,  contention,  belligerancy,  and  barbarism 
that  characterize  existing  society ; —  to  say  nothing  of  it& 
indisposition  and  lack  of  desire  to  enter  into,  sustain, 
and  carry  such  a  work  forward  to  triumphant  issues. 
And  not  only  was  the  world,  or  the  best  part  of  the 
world,  notwithstanding  all  its  professions  of  intelligence, 
virtue,  philanthropy,  piety  —  of  Christian  love  and  loy- 
alty —  not  ready  for  such  an  undertaking,  but  we  our- 
selves, who  had  assumed  to  enter  upon  it,  were  not  ready. 
We  had  too  many  of  the  infirmities  of  the  carnal  nature 
about  us,  we  were  too  much  under  the  dominion  of  the 
worldly  mind,  we  entered  too  little  into  the  Spirit  of  the 
Master,  and  were  entangled  with  too  large  a  number  of 
the  errors  and  follies  of  the  prevailing  religion  of  the 
church  to  win  the  success  of  which  our  cause  was  intrin- 
sically worthy.  We  lacked  the  wisdom,  the  grace,  the 
large-mindeduess,  the  generosity,  the  nobility  of  soul,  in 
a  single  word,  the  Christlikeness  that  was  requisite  to  the 
end  we  sought,  that  qualified  us  to  be  the  builders  of  a 
temple  on  every  stone  of  which  was  to  be  inscribed 


350  THE   HOPEDALE   COMMUNITY. 

"Holiness  to  the  Lord."  Probably  the  best  of  us  lacked 
these  qualities  in  too  great  a  degree,  and  it  may  be  that 
those  most  wanting  in  them  were  as  true  to  their  light 
and  capability  as  their  more  favored  brethren.  I  judge 
no  one  in  this  matter  but  refer  all  judgment,  whether  of 
approval  or  condemnation,  to  Him  who  cannot  err  and 
whose  verdict  is  righteous  and  irreversible. 

Some  have  been  disposed  to  censure  severely  and  blame 
without  reserve  the  Brothers  Draper  for  their  course  in 
the  matter-*— for  their  agency  in  bringing  on  the  fatal 
crisis,  charging  them  with  treachery  to  the  cause  they 
had  espoused  and  with  infidelity  to  their  brethren.  I  have 
never  sympathized  with  such  imputations.  To  be  sure, 
these  men  unitedly  owned  three-fourths  of  the  Joint-Stock 
of  the  Community  and  had  a  constantly  increasing  income 
from  their  own  private  business,  which  was  carried  on 
outside  of  Community  superintendence,  though  in  accord 
with  its  established  polity.  To  be  sure,  it  was  their 
decision  to  withdraw  their  portion  of  the  common  funds 
from  the  treasury  that  precipitated  our  overthrow.  And 
it  is  also  true  that  they  were  enabled  to  erect  upon  the 
foundation  which  had  been  laid  by  us  with  much  study, 
labor,  self-denial,  and  prayer,  an  enterprise  that  yielded 
them  personally  an  ample  fortune  and  enabled  their  suc- 
cessors to  rise  to  a  commanding  place  among  the  opulent 
capitalists  of  their  day  and  generation.  But  I  could 
never  yield  assent  to  any  charges,  open  or  implied,  of 
infidelity  or  betrayal  of  trust  that  may  have  been  preferred 
against  them,  usually  from  outsiders ;  certainly  not  of 
perfidy  or  injustice  towards  their  brethren ;  nor  could  I 
count  them  sinners  above  all  others  in  the  competitive, 
money-making,  self-seeking  world.  For  the  reason,  that 
neither  of  them  ever  sought  to  enrich  himself  at  the 
Community's  expense,  or  took  advantage  of  its  necessities, 
or  shirked  his  share  of  its  burdens,  or  tried  to  absolve 
himself  from  any  of  its  obligations.  On  the  contrary, 


INDIVIDUAL   RIGHTS   SACRED.  351 

both  helped  it  in  many  a  time  of  need,  by  augmenting 
its  capital,  by  enhancing  its  credit,  by  co-operating  cheer- 
fully with  their  brethren  in  maintaining  its  honor,  and 
not  infrequently,  especially  in  the  case  of  the  elder,  by 
making  it  important  and  gratefully-received  donations. 

I  did  at  the  time  greatly  deplore  the  decisive  step  on 
their  part  by  which  our  associated  endeavors  were  brought 
to  an  end.  I  longed  to  have  them  and  all  my  associates 
prize  the  cause  as  I  did,  see  the  matter  as  I  saw  it,  feel 
as  I  felt,  and  be  willing  and  happy  to  do  with  their 
means  as  I  should  have  done  had  I  been  favored  as  they 
were  —  use  them  for  the  good  of  our  body  and  for  the 
-continuance  and  advancement  of  the  work  to  which  we 
were  all  sacredly  pledged.  And  I  then  had,  as  I  have  now, 
no  doubt,  that  if  these  two  brothers  had  been  so  minded, 
the  Community  would  have  gone  on  prospering  and  to 
prosper  for  many  years  after  its  career  was  terminated. 

But  as  the  movement  rested  wholly  on  the  basis  of  the 
inherent  and  indefeasible  individual  rights  of  its  mem- 
bers—  rights  of  conscience,  of  private  judgment,  of  per- 
sonal possession  of  property,  and  of  voluntary  action  in 
the  management  of  our  common  affairs,  I  always  held 
these  sacred,  and  never  attempted  or  desired  to  dictate, 
coerce,  overrule,  or  over-persuade  any  one,  even  to  save 
the  Community  from  dissolution.  I  never  could  respect 
or  love  or  have  confidence  in  any  social  experiment  that 
was  not  undertaken  by  intelligent,  free-minded,  willing- 
hearted  men  and  women  —  persons  sincerely  and  reverently 
obedient  to  divine  moral  principles,  and  not  blindly  sub- 
servient to  mere  human  authority  of  any  sort  whatsoever. 
Much  as  I  desire  and  pray  for  a  true  Community,  I  want 
none  for  the  sake  of  merely  temporal  and  worldly  advan- 
tage, and  none  in  which  the  individual  member  loses  his 
identity  in  the  general  mass  and  is  made  less  a  man  or 
woman  by  socialistic  organization  or  polity.  Perish  all 
plans  of  social  reform  —  all  devices,  expedients,  schemes, 


352  THE   HOPED  ALE   COMMUNITY. 

systems,  that  destroy  or  dwarf  the  human  personality,  that 
limit  or  enthrall  any  of  the  capabilities  or  possibilities  of 
the  children  of  the  infinite  Father  of  all  mankind.  I  do, 
however,  sincerely  believe  in  the  practicability  and  coming 
actualization  of  a  social  order,  or  system  of  communal 
life,  under  which  those  capabilities  and  possibilities  shall 
be  exercised,  unfolded,  and  enjoyed  inimitably.  Only  that 
attainment  is  far  more  difficult  and  demands  a  far  higher 
development  of  character  and  a  far  fuller  and  richer 
experience  of  the  life  of  God  in  the  soul  of  man  than  I 
formerly  conceived. 

Moreover,  I  am  now  able  to  see  from  my  present  point 
of  observation,  that,  if  the  Brothers  Draper  had  been  of 
the  same  mind  as  myself  —  had  been  willing  to  devote 
their  rapidly  accumulating  property  to  the  further  develop- 
ment, growth,  and  prosperity  of  the  Hopedale  Community, 
it  would  have  sooner  or  later  failed ;  and  for  the  same 
general  reason  already  given ;  on  account  of  the  same 
lack  of  moral  qualification  which  existed  at  the  time  of 
its  suspension,  and  which,  I  repeat,  will  forever  prove 
fatal  to  any  enterprise  of  like  character  and  purpose  at 
any  period  of  the  world's  history.  I  at  present  see  no 
ground  for  believing  that,  with  the  prevailing  currents  of 
society  setting  so  strongly  in  the  direction  of  the  accumu- 
lation of  wealth,  of  political  preferment,  of  fashionable 
display,  of  easy-going  morality,  and  of  a  religion  still 
studiously  careful  not  to  offend  too  seriously  the  popular 
taste,  or  habits  of  the  multitude  by  arraigning  and  con- 
demning giant  wrongs  and  unchristian  practices  in  social, 
civil,  and  national  life, —  1  see  no  ground  for  believing 
under  these  circumstances  that  the  menbership  of  the 
Community  would  up  to  this  moment  have  been  raised  to 
a  higher  moral  and  spiritual  level  than  it  occupied  at 
that  time,  even  had  it  been  possible  for  it  to  have  main- 
tained its  then  existing  integrity  and  standing  before  the 
divine  law  and  in  the  presence  of  Him  who  is  of  purer 


BETTER  MATERIAL   COULD   NOT  BE   FOUND.          353 

eyes  than  to  look  upon  iniquity  with  favor,  aiid  whose 
kingdom  in  this  and  all  possible  worlds  is  righteousness 
and  peace  and  joy.  No  Community  can  be  a  success 
except  its  membership  consist  of  persons  the  like  of 
which  the  world  even  now  possesses  very  few. 

For  it  is  my  profound  conviction,  formed  at  the  time 
and  confirmed  by  long  and  careful  observation,  experi- 
ence, and  reflection  since,  that,  notwithstanding  the 
weaknesses,  faults,  and  shortcomings  of  our  Hopedale 
fraternity,  it  was  composed  of  men  and  women  as  well 
equipped,  intellectually,  morally,  and  spiritually,  for  the 
realization  of  their  ideal  of  what  human  life  and  human 
society  upon  the  earth  ought  to  be,  as  any  equal  number 
that  could  have  been  brought  together  from  any  quarter 
or  portion  of  the  habitable  globe.  I  sincerely  believe 
that  if  we  had  gathered  our  numbers  from  the  rank  and 
file  of  any  church,  philanthropic  organization,  moral 
reform  society,  or  philosophical  club  in  or  out  of  Chris- 
tendom, organized  them,  and  put  them  to  the  work  of 
social  reconstruction  under  circumstances  like  those  amid 
which  we  were  placed  at  Hopedale,  we  should  have  met 
with  a  no  less  disastrous  defeat  than  we  encountered,  and 
very  likely  at  an  earlier  date.  The  religion,  ethics,  phi- 
lanthrophy,  culture  of  general  society,  or  of  any  particular 
class  of  reformers  or  moralists,  impose  too  little  self- 
discipline,  self-denial,  self-restraint,  upon  individuals  and 
families  to  fit  them  for  a  voluntary,  close  intimacy,  and 
union  of  the  manifold  secular  interests  and  business 
activities  of  life.  They  leave  their  subjects  too  egoistic, 
angular,  self-opinionated,  mercenary,  combative,  belliger- 
ent, revengeful ;  too  crude,  inconsiderate,  capricious, 
fastidious,  uudrilled,  in  their  tastes,  tempers,  wills,  judg- 
ments, to  live  with  each  other  or  with  any  number  of 
their  fellowmen  on  terms  of  equality,  fraternal  co-oper- 
ation, and  mutual  good  feeling.  The  great  mass  of 
people,  even  of  reputed  good  people,  find  it  somewhat 

23 


354  THE   HOPEDALE   COMMUNITY. 

difficult  to  get  on  harmoniously  and  happily  together  in 
existing  society  for  a  great  length  of  time,  notwithstand- 
ing all  the  bars,  prohibitions,  and  restraints  imposed 
upon  them  there.  The}7  can  meet  as  neighbors  and 
acquaintances,  as  persons  interested  in  certain  common 
pleasures,  pursuits,  objects  in  life,  and  continue  perma- 
nently in  sweet  and  joyous  accord.  They  can  commingle 
and  act  together  on  occasions  and  for  a  brief  period,  in 
order  to  promote  some  cherished  intellectual,  literary, 
charitable,  scientific,  aesthetic,  moral,  or  religious  enter- 
prise or  aim  —  they  can  maintain  a  conventional  round 
of  friendly  visitation,  of  mutual  conference,  of  amuse- 
ment seeking,  of  lecture  hearing,  or  of  church  going, 
without  jeopardizing  their  good  opinion  of  each  other  or 
the  general  harmony  and  happiness.  Whereas,  too  fre- 
quent intercourse,  daily  contact,  seeing  each  other  in 
all  moods,  in  all  costumes,  in  all  habitudes  of  thought 
and  feeling,  and,  above  all,  working  side  by  side,  holding 
property  in  common,  managing  business  together  —  this 
is  quite  another  matter;  this  is  leaving  the  poetry  for 
the  prose  of  life ;  it  is  an  ordeal  which  few  can  patiently 
submit  to  or  endure.  The  intimacy  of  the  relation  which 
must  necessarily  exist  in  any  form  of  Community  life, 
whereby  the  weaknesses,  follies,  foibles,  idiosyncracies, 
disagreeabilities,  and  offensive  characteristics  of  each  and 
every  individual  are  disclosed,  requires  a  consideration,  a 
forbearance,  a  kindly  and  forgiving  disposition,  a  measure 
of  the  true  Christ-like  spirit,  rarely  possessed  by  any 
considerable  number,  much  less  by  any  associated  body 
of  persons,  whatever  their  profession  or  the  name  by 
which  they  are  designated.  In  taking  this  view  of  the 
matter  I  can  but  have  brought  forcibly  to  mind  a  pas- 
sage from  the  letter  of  Dr.  Wm.  E.  Chanuing  to  me  in 
the  early  days  of  our  movement,  as  it  appears  on  page  42 
of  this  work :  "I  have  for  a  very  long  time  dreamed  of 
an  association,  in  which  the  members,  instead  of  preying 


LIMITATIONS   OF   PROFESSING  CHRISTIANS.  355 

•on  one  another  and  seeking  to  put  one  another  down, 
after  the  fashion  of  this  world,  should  live  together  as 
brothers,  seeking  one  another's  elevation  and  spiritual 
growth.  But  the  materials  for  such  a  community  I  have 
not  seen." 

Such  materials  as  a  matter  of  fact  do  not  exist  at  the 
present  stage  of  human  development,  save  in  rare  instances, 
even  within  the  pale  of  the  nominal  Christian  Church,  the 
more  liberal  and  progressive  branches  of  the  Christian 
Church  not  excepted.  And  there  are  good  and  sufficient 
reasons  for  this.  The  mass  of  professing  Christians  of 
all  schools  have  no  definite  and  adequate  conception  of  a 
divine  order  of  society  among  men  —  no  lofty,  sublime, 
inspiring  ideal  of  the  reign  of  righteousness,  brotherhood, 
love,  peace,  and  joy  on  the  earth.  If  they  have  any  con- 
ception or  idea  at  all  of  such  an  order  or  reign,  it 
pertains,  not  to  the  present  but  to  a  future  state  of 
existence,  —  not  to  this  world  but  to  the  world  to  come. 
Christianity  is  generally  preached  and  believed  as  culmin- 
ating in  so-called  civilization ;  in  civilization  improved,  it 
may  be,  lifted  to  a  somewhat  higher  plane  of  thought 
and  conduct  perhaps,  but  yet  a  civilization  or  order  of 
human  life  in  which  the  essential  maxims,  usages,  cus- 
toms, institutions  of  the  world  as  it  is  shall  continue  to 
exercise  predominating  sway  in  the  affairs  of  men;  in 
which  the  existing  relations  between  man  and  man, 
between  different  classes  of  people,  between  the  great 
interests  of  society,  shall  remain  virtually  the  same  as 
they  now  are,  especially  in  the  more  advanced  portions 
of  the  globe.  The  notion  of  a  radical  change  in  these 
regards ;  of  a  social  regeneration  corresponding  to  a 
regeneration  of  personal  character  and  life,  is  quite 
foreign  to  the  thought,  the  aspiration,  and  the  specific 
aim  of  the  average  church-member  of  this  age.  The 
notion  of  a  dynasty  of  right  principles  —  of  justice, 
mercy,  truth,  and  love,  under  which  self-seeking,  mam- 


356  THE   HOPEDALE   COMMUNITY. 

monism,  love  of  display,  scramble  for  preferment  and 
power,  the  gross  inequalities  of  social  condition,  tyranny, 
national  jealously  and  ambition,  and  above  all,  injurious 
force,  vindictive  punishment,  and  the  barbarous  war  sys- 
tem, shall  have  no  place,  seems  to  be  quite  above  and 
beyond  the  apprehension  of  the  common  religious  teacher 
of  divine  truth,  save  as  a  beautiful  theory,  as  it  is  of 
the  great  majority  of  the  so-called  Christian  world.  Such 
notions  are  deemed  fanciful,  impracticable,  Utopian ;  the 
speculations  and  vagaries  of  visionaries  and  eccentric 
enthusiasts,  not  the  conclusions  of  judicious,  level-headed, 
practical,  common  sense  men  and  women. 

And  yet  there  is  all  about  us  a  most  solemn  professed 
and  conventional  reverence  for  Christ  and  his  teachings, 
and  a  constant  Sabbath-day  iteration  and  reiteration  of 
his  injunctions  against  every  type  of  human  selfishness, 
every  form  of  harmful  violence,  every  degree  of  cruelty 
and  revenge,  every  manifestation  of  the  spirit  of  wrath 
and  war,  and  a  corresponding  repetition  of  his  require- 
ments concerning  those  kindly  sentiments  and  duties  cal- 
culated to  promote  gentleness,  compassion,  unity,  peace, 
and  good  will  among  men.  Familiar  as  household  words 
to  all  bible  readers  and  church-going  people  are  the  pas- 
sages:  "Blessed  are  the  merciful  for  they  shall  obtain 
mercy";  "Blessed  are  the  peace-makers  for  they  shall  be 
called  the  children  of  God";  "Ye  have  heard  that  it 
hath  been  said  4  An  eye  for  an  eye  and  a  tooth  for  a 
tooth,'  but  I  say  unto  you,  Resist  not  evil ;  but  whosoever 
shall  smite  thee  on  the  right  cheek  turn  to  him  the  other 
also,  etc."  "Ye  have  heard  that  it  hath  been  said, 
4  Thou  shalt  love  thy  neighbor  and  hate  thine  enemy,' 
but  I  say  unto  you,  Love  your  enemies,  bless  them  that 
curse  you,  do  good  to  them  that  hate  you,  and  pray  for 
them  that  despitef  ally  use  you  and  persecute  you ;  That 
ye  may  be  the  children  of  your  Father  who  is  in  heaven ; 
For  he  maketh  his  sun  to  shine  upon  the  evil  and  the 


CHRIST'S   TEACHINGS   SYSTEMATICALLY   IGNORED.    357 

good  and  sendeth  ruin  upon  the  just  and  the  unjust." 
44  All  things  whatsoever  ye  would  that  men  should  do 
unto  you  do  ye  also  unto  them."  44Put  up  thy  sword 
into  its  place,  for  all  they  that  take  the  sword  shall 
perish  with  the  sword."  "The  princes  of  the  Gentiles 
exercise  dominion  over  them  and  they  that  are  great 
exercise  authority  over  them.  But  it  shall  not  be  so 
among  you,  but  whosoever  will  be  great  among  you  let 
him  be  your  minister,  and  whosoever  will  be  chief  among 
you  let  him  be  your  servant."  "My  kingdom  is  not  of 
this  world,  else  would  my  servants  fight."  '*  A  new  com- 
mandment I  give  unto  you  that  ye  love  one  another." 

And  all  this  is  done  with  an  air  of  sincerity  and 
impressiveness,  as  if  people  believed  in  the  duties  incul- 
cated and  were  striving  to  order  their  lives  by  them  in  all 
respects ;  as  if  society  was  not  by  custom,  by  law,  by  gen- 
eral consent  setting  those  precepts  continually  at  naught ;  as 
if  states  and  nations,  even  those  priding  themselves  most 
on  being  called  Christian,  in  their  relations  to  and  treat- 
ment of  each  other,  in  their  dealings  with  the  more 
dependent  classes  within  their  borders,  in  their  mainte- 
nance of  capital  punishment  and  the  gigantic  system  of 
war,  which  Channing  declared  to  be  the  last  vestige  of 
barbarism,  with  its  complex  and  mighty  enginery  for 
maiming  and  destroying  the  children  of  God  and  multi- 
plying the  sorrows  and  distresses  of  mankind,  were  not 
systematically  and  persistently  bidding  them  defiance,  and 
trampling  them  without  compunction,  remorse,  or  shame 
into  the  dust.  One  may  laud  Christ  to  the  skies,  nay, 
exalt  him  to  a  place  in  the  Godhead,  he  may  lavish 
encomiums  upon  his  precepts  and  example  without  stint, 
but  must  not  follow  him  too  closely  or  apply  his  teach- 
ings too  rigidly,  in  matters  pertaining  to  the  acquisition 
and  use  of  property,  methods  of  trade,  the  wage  system, 
the  relations  between  capital  and  labor,  treatment  of  the 
criminal  and  perishing  classes,  caste  distinctions,  and 


358  THE  HOPEDALE   COMMUNITY. 

concerns  of  kindred  nature.  Members  of  different  relig- 
ious sects  may  vie  with  each  other  upon  each  returning 
Christmas  time  in  singing  anew  the  angelic  song  of 
4  4  Peace  on  earth  and  Good  Will  to  men "  and  in  making 
vocal  with  anthems  and  hallelujahs  the  anniversary  of 
the  day  when  its  words  of  promise  and  of  cheer  first 
echoed  "o'er  Judea's  star-lit  plains,"  even  while  the 
nations  to  which  they  belong  are  multiplying  the  instru- 
ments and  agencies  of  human  slaughter,  and  preparing  to- 
44  let  slip  the  dogs  of  war"  upon  the  children  of  the 
heavenly  Father,  with  scarce  a  voice  or  murmur  of  pro- 
test or  condemnation  on  their  part.  So  utterly  at  vari- 
ance are  so-called  Christian  profession  and  practice  in 
this  fundamental  regard. 

In  thus  animadverting  on  what  I  deem  the  unfaithful- 
ness and  shortcoming  of  the  Christian  Church,  as  it  is 
called  —  on  its  failure  to  comprehend  and  appreciate  the 
full  significance  and  purpose  of  the  Gospel  of  its  acknowl- 
edged Lord,  and  its  neglect  to  make  the  sacred  principles 
and  precepts  of  that  Gospel  the  rule  of  conduct  in  the 
social  and  civil  affairs  and  relations  of  men,  I  do  not  intend 
to  be  understood  as  saying  or  implying  that  it  is  of  no  use 
in  the  world  —  a  cumberer  of  the  ground,  and  ought  to 
be  abolished.  This  conclusion  is  farthest  from  my  thought. 
I  have  no  doubt  that  the  Church,  as  a  whole,  and  in  its 
manifold  departments  and  activities,  plays  a  most  import- 
ant part  in  the  drama  of  humanity  and  in  the  providential 
economy  of  the  world  —  is  an  indispensable  factor  in  the 
problem  of  human  progress  and  redemption.  I  have  no 
doubt  that  it  is  an  invaluable  agency  for  holding  in  check 
and  overcoming  the  evil  and  sorrow  that  exist  in  the 
earth,  for  conserving  and  promoting  the  good  and  happi- 
ness of  mankind,  and  a  most  needful  instrumentality  in 
improving  human  condition  and  human  character ;  in  pre- 
paring the  way  for  the  building  up  of  a  true  social  order, 
for  the  coming  of  the  kingdom  of  God.  I  only  mean  to 


DEFECTS   AND  MERITS   OF   THE  CHURCH.  359 

affirm  that,  from  my  Practical  Christian  point  of  view,  its 
testimonies  are  too  superficial  and  pretentious ;  that  its 
champions  and  controlling  spirits  are  too  well  satisfied  with 
an  incomplete,  fractional  righteousesss  or  too  tame  and 
compromising  in  their  testimonies  against  popular  abuses 
and  wrongs ;  that  its  attitude  is  too  subservient  to  the 
civil  authority  and  power,  too  complaisant  and  indifferent 
in  respect  to  the  vindictive  and  unchristian  features  of 
existing  human  governments  and  of  society  as  it  now  is. 
Its  members  are  bound  by  social  and  civil  ties  and  obliga- 
tions, no  less  real  and  commanding  because  unwritten  and 
unrecognized,  not  to  uphold  or  practice  an  ethical  code 
essentially  truer  and  nobler  than  that  which  holds  sway  in 
the  Community  at  large,  and  not  to  undertake  to  devise, 
advocate,  or  inaugurate  any  reform  or  movement  which  pro- 
poses to  supersede  the  established  system  of  human  society 
by  one  radically  better  and  upon  a  moral  plane  distinctively 
higher  than  that  occupied  by  the  ruling  forces  of  the 
world  around,  or  by  the  politico-military  patriotism  of  the 
particular  country  in  which  they  reside.  My  depreciation 
of  the  Church  is  of  this  nature  and  goes  to  this  extent, 
but  no  further.  Cheerfully  and  gratefully  acknowledging 
its  importance  and  value  within  certain  self-appointed 
limits,  and  the  good  it  has  done  and  may  still  do  thus 
circumscribed  and  handicapped,  I  yet  deny  its  claims  to 
being  a  true  Church  of  Christ,  a  faithful  exponent  of  the 
religion  of  the  New  Testament,  a  trustworthy  representa- 
tive and  teacher  of  what  Christianity  was  designed  in  the 
providence  of  God  to  do  for  the  children  of  men,  or  of 
what  it  is  intrinsically  capable  of  accomplishing  in  the 
way  of  enlightening,  renewing,  and  transforming  the  world. 
What  is  needed  and  what  will  some  day  be  realized  is  a 
regenerated  Church,  which  shall  have  a  clearer  insight 
concerning  the  truths  declared  and  duties  enjoined  in  the 
Gospel,  which  shall  proclaim  a  loftier  and  more  perfect 
righteousness  than  is  now  taught  and  required  by  its 


360  THE   HOPEDALE   COMMUNITY. 

ministers  and  evangelists,  which  shall  assert  its  freedom 
from  all  commercial,  political,  military  domination  and 
entanglements,  and  which  shall  enlist  its  communicants 
and  confessors  in  the  transceudant  work  of  shaping  all 
human  institutions,  laws,  customs,  practices,  by  the  infal- 
lible standard  of  Practical  Christianity,  of  readjusting  the 
social  and  civil  relations  of  men  and  making  them  con- 
form to  the  order  of  the  divine  kingdom,  of  initiating, 
organizing,  and  practically  illustrating  an  all-embracing, 
universal  reform  movement,  based  upon  the  great  funda- 
mental ideas  of  the  Fatherhood  of  God  and  the  Brother- 
hood of  Man,  pursuant  to  and  in  fulfillment  of  the  prayer 
of  Jesus,  so  often  repeated  by  his  avowed  disciples,  *4  Thy 
kingdom  come,  thy  will  be  done  on  earth  as  it  is  in 
heaven." 

And  what  I  have  said  in  regard  to  the  shortcomings 
of  the  Church  as  now  organized,  equipped,  and  operated, 
and  of  its  incompetency  for  the  work  which  a  true  Chris- 
tian Church  would  be  able  to  perform  for  the  enlighten- 
ment, moral  uplifting,  and  harmonization  of  the  children 
of  men,  may  be  affirmed  of  all  classes  of  so-called 
Reformers  and  of  the  organizations  instituted  for  the 
more  effective  prosecution  of  their  respective  missions. 
However  much  good  they  do  in  their  chosen  fields  of 
effort,  (and  I  would  not  deny  but  affirm  that  they  do 
much)  they  yet  are  too  limited  and  fragmentary  in  their 
objects  and  methods  to  serve  the  largest  needs  of  human- 
ity and  bring  the  better  era  in.  Moreover,  Reformers,  as 
a  rule,  are  personally  unfitted  for  a  task  so  disinterested 
and  sublime  as  that  we  assumed  at  Hopedale,  besides 
being  involved,  like  the  members  of  the  Church,  in  the 
maintenance  and  perpetuation  of  certain  great  chronic 
abuses  and  wrongs  of  social  and  civil  life,  their  own 
special  object  of  attack  and  extermination  excepted,  which 
render  such  a  task  essential  to  human  welfare  and  happi- 
ness. To  others  rather  then  to  them,  and  to  other  agen- 


THE  TROUBLE  CHIEFLY  BUT  NOT  WHOLLY  MORAL.     361 

oies    than    they    employ,  must    we    look    for    the    world's 
complete  redemption. 

It  will  be  seen  by  what  appears  on  the  foregoing  pages 
that  it  is  my  deliberate  and  solemn  conviction  that  the 
predominating  cause  of  the  failure  of  The  Hopedale  Com- 
munity was  a  moral  and  spiritual,  not  a  financial  one  — 
a  deficiency  among  its  members  of  those  graces  and 
powers  of  character  which  are  requisite  to  the  realization 
of  the  Christian  ideal  of  human  society,  such  as  that 
enterprise  was  designed  to  represent  and  exemplify.  In 
other  and  more  general  terms,  the  movement  was  too  far 
ahead  of  and  above  the  world,  in  its  then  existing  or 
present  state  of  advancement,  to  be  practicable. 

But  this,  though  the  chief  was  not  the  only  source  of 
its  weakness  and  instability  —  was  not  the  only  agency 
concerned  in  the  suspension  of  its  leading  organic  activi- 
ties and  in  its  final  extinction.  Other  defects  there  were 
that  I  am  persuaded  hastened  and  accentuated  the  crisis. 
They  were  of  less  moment  than  the  one  named,  relating, 
as  they  did,  to  means  and  methods,  to  organization  and 
general  polity,  to  financial  resources  and  embarrassments, 
to  industrial  arrangements  and  to  forms  of  administration ; 
but  they  were  of  a  serious  nature,  and  in  due  time,  I 
have  reason  to  believe,  would  of  themselves  have  brought 
disaster  to  all  our  plans,  labors,  and  aspirations.  They 
need  not  be  stated  at  great  length,  nor  need  it  be  shown 
by  what  processes  they  would  have  wrought  eventually 
our  ruin.  It  is  sufficient  to  simply  tabulate  them  for  the 
guidance  of  future  explorers  of  the  field  on  which  we  won 
many  gratifying  victories,  as  we  suffered  there  also  a 
final  deplorable  defeat. 

Of  the  secondary  causes  of  trouble  and  discomfiture  to ; 
us,  against  which  I  would  give  due  warning  to  all   con- 
cerned, the  following  are  deemed  of   such   importance    as 
to  be  worthy  of  mention  in  this  connection,  to  wit :  — 


362  THE   HOPEDALE   COMMUNITY. 

1.  We  began   operations   without    sufficient   funds    for 
our    immediate    and    prospective    needs.     We    incurred    a 
debt   at   the    outset,  which,  with   subsequent  enlargement, 
proved    a    vexation,    a    burden,    and    a    hindrance    to    us 
during    our    entire    career.     And    at    every    stage    of    our 
experience  we  were  annoyed  and  embarrassed  by  want  of 
means  to  establish  and  prosecute   our  manifold  industries 
advantageously,    maintain   our    educational,    religious    and 
missionary  activities  liberally,   build  houses,   open  streets, 
supply  all    our    public    necessity,  and  meet  easily  all  our 
obligations. 

2.  Our  domain  was  in  some  essential  respects  unsuited 
to  the  purposes  of  such  an  undertaking  as  that  in  which 
we    enlisted.     Naturally  infertile   and   difficult   of   cultiva- 
tion, it  had  for  the  most  part  become  exhausted  by  many 
years  of  neglect  and  imperfect  tillage  when  we  took  pos- 
session   of    it,    and    so    required    unusual    expenditure    of 
labor  and  money  to   render   it   easy  of   management   and 
productive   to    a   desirable    extent.     For   this    reason    our 
farming  interests,  which   should    have   contributed   largely 
to  our  prosperity,  were  an  extra  care  to  us  and  an  obsta- 
cle in  the  pathway  of  ultimate  success. 

3.  We  commenced  operations  with  too  few  and  incom- 
modious   public    and    private    buildings  —  houses,    barns, 
stables,  shops,  etc.,  etc.,  —  for  the  convenience,  comfort, 
freedom,    seclusion,   retirement,    essential   to   the    common 
well-being   and   happiness.     The   disorder,   confusion,  and 
friction   incident   to   the   crowded    condition   in   which   we 
were  placed  at  the  start  and  for  a   long   time   afterward, 
wrought  us  irreparable  injury. 

4.  Instead   of  retaining  the    management   of    our   do- 
main   in   the    hands   of    the    Community    exclusively,    as 
was  our  policy,  it  should  have  been  divided  into  sections 
or  lots  of  varying  size,   for   the   occupancy  and   improve- 
ment  of  such  of  our  members,  probationers,  and  depend- 
ents   as  might  desire   them,   to   be  loaned  at   a   moderate 


SECONDARY   CAUSES   OF   FAILURE.  363 

charge  for  ground  rent.  This  would  have  enabled  a 
goodly  number  of  our  people  whose  tastes  and  capabili- 
ties fitted  them  for  tilling  the  soil,  to  have  subsisted 
themselves  and  their  families  more  easily  and  satisfac- 
torily than  they  could  otherwise  do ;  it  would  have  devel- 
oped the  spirit  of  self-reliance  and  a  sense  of  personal 
responsibility,  and  in  many  ways  enhanced  the  general 
harmony  and  happiness. 

5.  Our   Constitution   and  general  polity*  under  it  were 
too   rigid    and    inflexible,  making  too   little  allowance  for 
individual  tastes,  capabilies,  adaptations,  judgments,  choice 
of  action  and  occupation,  etc.     They  should  have  provided 
for  subordinate  associations  or  communes  to  be  instituted 
by  different  classes  of  persons  —  Individualists,  Joint-Stock 
Proprietors,  Communists  proper,  and  Eclectics  —  the  mem- 
bers of  each  privileged  to  occupy  separate  territory,  estab- 
lish  industries  of   their   own   and   manage   their   business 
affairs   in   their  own  way,  while    owning   a   general    moral 
allegiance  to   the    Community  itself   as  the  Federal  Head 
of  all  associated  interests  and  undertakings. 

6.  It  was  a  source  of  complication  and  embarrassment 
as  well  as  dissatisfaction  and   irritation   that  we   allowed 
seceding   members    to  withdraw  invested  capital  from  our 
treasury  without   proper   and   definitely  expressed   restric- 
tions.    In  seeking  to  be  just  and  honorable  in  our  deal- 
ings with  such,  we  went  to  unwarrantable   extremes    and 
jeopardized   our   own   safety    as    well    as  our  own   peace. 
Well  understood  conditions  of  investment  from  the  begin- 
ning would  have  obviated  many  difficulties  in  that  respect, 
as    ample    means  would  also  have  done.     In  our  circum- 
stances the  course  pursued  was  perilous. 

7.  There  was  always  a  tendency  among  us,  stimulated 
by  contact  with   the   community   at    large,   to    subordinate 
our  declared    standard   of   principles   and  duties  to   expe- 
diency, money-making,  worldly  success,  and  other  forms  of 
self-seeking,  which  was  calculated  to  sap  both  our  iudi- 


364  THE   HOPEDALE   COMMUNITY. 

vidual  and  public  virtue  and  to  undermine  the  sublime 
structure  we  essayed  to  build.  A  further  remove  from 
the  allurements,  temptations,  and  downward  currents  of 
existing  society  would  have  been  greatly  to  our  advan- 
tage. 

8.  We  allowed  too  large  a  percentage  of  persons 
among  us  as  employes,  boarders,  and  temporary  residents, 
who  were  not  only  incompetent  to  understand  and  appre- 
ciate our  work  and  so  commend  it  to  others,  but  were 
unwilling  to  yield  cheerfully  to  Community  requirements, 
thus  breaking  down  respect  for  Community  authority ;  and 
who  by  their  contumacy  and  criticism  incited  in  others  the 
spirit  of  unrest  and  incipient  contempt  of  what  we  deemed 
vital  and  sacred.  Moreover,  the  conversation  and  conduct 
of  such  persons  were  often  such  as  to  corrupt  the  morals 
of  our  children  and  youth  as  well  as  of  the  more  suscep- 
tible and  easily  influenced  of  our  adult  population.  This 
condition  of  things  necessitated  a  resort  to  restrictive 
legislation,  to  scrutinizing  vigilance,  and  to  a  system  of 
moral  judicature,  which,  by  a  different  policy  in  this 
particular,  would  have  been  avoided,  in  the  interest  of 
good  feeling,  harmony,  and  the  common  welfare. 

Had  our  Community  not  fallen  into  these  and  kindred 
errors,  and  had  its  membership  been  composed  of  men 
and  women  firmly  established  in  the  principles  and  thor- 
oughly imbued  with  the  spirit  of  the  Gospel  of  Christ, 
this  History  would  have  been  very  different  from  what  it 
now  is.  Instead  of  being  a  record  of  mingled  hope  and 
fear,  prosperity  and  adversity,  victory  and  defeat,  exul- 
tation and  humiliation  —  the  latter  of  these  alternatives 
predominating  at  the  last  and  culminating  in  utter  dis- 
aster, it  would  have  been  one  of  varied  experiences  no 
doubt,  joyful  and  sad,  but  all  ending  in  a  grand,  trium- 
phant success.  Instead  of  being  as  a  whole  a  warning 
and  an  admonition  to  future  explorers  and  laborers  in 
the  field  of  social  progress  and  reconstruction  —  to  other 


MOST   LAUDABLE   BUT   ILL-FATED   EXPERIMENT.      365 

builders  of  a  new  order  of  society,  it  would  have  been  a 
guide  and  an  inspiration  to  more  wisely  planned  and 
directed  efforts  than  ours  and  to  a  sublimer  consummation 
than  we  ever  sought  for  or  conceived.  As  it  is,  it  will 
go  out  to  the  world  and  down  to  coming  generations  a 
plain  unvarnished  tale  of  a  disinterested,  noble  endeavor 
to  benefit  mankind  and  bring  God's  kingdom  in  —  of  a 
laudable  but  ill-fated  experiment  entered  upon  and  prose- 
cuted, not  to  advance  any  selfish  or  unworthy  interest  or 
cause,  but  rather  to  show  the  way  of  a  better,  truer  life 
to  individuals,  communities,  peoples,  states,  and  nations, 
to  aid  in  the  re-formation  of  the  social  relations  of  men, 
the  re-adjustment  of  industrial  and  commercial  affairs,  the 
harmonizing  of  conflicting  class  interests,  and  the  fraterni- 
zation of  the  world.  It  has  been  written  and  is  now 
commended  to  all  lovers  of  their  fellowmen  and  especially 
to  all  friends  of  Social  Reform  in  the  sincere  hope  —  nay, 
with  the  assurance,  that  somehow  or  other  in  the  divine 
order  it  may  be  *  instrumental  in  promoting  the  great 
objects  for  which  the  Community  was  established  and  to 
which  the  author  in  good  conscience  towards  God  and 
man  has  devoted  his  life. 

In  bringing  to  a  close  the  History  of  a  movement  with 
which  my  name  was  more  closely  indentified  than  that  of 
any  other  single  individual,  I  desire  to  re-affirm  in 
positive  and  unmistakable  terms  my  continued  and  unwa- 
vering faith  in  the  principles  out  of  which  that  movement 
sprang  into  being  and  upon  which  it  was  based,  and  in 
the  excellence  and  grandeur  of  the  work  which  it  attempted 
to  do  in  the  service  of  God  for  the  good  of  mankind. 
Believing,  as  I  have  done  from  my  early  youth,  in  the 
Religion  of  Jesus  Christ  as  he  taught  and  exemplified  it, 
I  am  confident  beyond  all  doubt  that  the  truths  inculcated 
and  requirements  enjoined  by  that  religion  are  applicable 
to  human  life  in  all  its  multiform  and  complex  depart- 


366  THE    HOPEDALE    COMMUNITY. 

ments,  activities,  and  relations,  and  that  only  by  such 
application  in  the  broadest  and  most  inclusive  sense  can 
God's  purpose  in  the  creation  of  the  world  be  accom- 
plished or  the  human  race  become  truly  wise,  righteous, 
harmonious,  and  happy.  Moreover,  I  also  firmly  believe 
that,  while  the  progress  and  ultimate  redemption  of  man- 
kind are  greatly  promoted  by  the  broadcast  diffusion  of 
divine  truth  and  its  gradually  renewing  and  uplifting 
effect  upon  the  world,  like  leaven  hid  in  measures  of 
meal,  definite  and  radical  methods  of  reform,  similar  to 
that  represented  in  the  Hopedale  Community,  are  essential 
to  the  highest  and  most  far  reaching  results  and  will 
some  day  be  inaugurated  and  carried  forward  to  trium- 
phant issues. 

Nothing  is  more  obvious  or  incontrovertible  to  my  mind 
than  the  need  of  such  methods.  The  existing  order  of 
human  society  is  not  simply  imperfect  and  defective  — 
it  is  fundamentally  unchristian  and  wrong  in  many  of  its 
characteristic  features,  and  requires  organic  reconstruction 
and  an  administration  of  affairs  along  new  lines,  in  order 
to  bring  it  into  accord  with  the  everlasting  law  of  God 
and  secure  to  all  conditions  and  classes  of  men  the  most 
perfect  equity,  and  the  most  permanent  enjoyment.  The 
great  question  involved  in  our  Hopedale  experiment  is 
not  yet  settled ;  only  postponed  to  a  wiser  and  better 
future.  The  work  of  Social  Reform  is  by  no  means 
abandoned ;  it  is  only  suspended  till  the  world  is  fitted 
by  intellectual  growth  and  spiritual  elevation  to  take  it 
up  again  and  prosecute  it  to  successful  results,  —  till 
some  more  auspicious  day  in  the  slowly  but  surely  advanc- 
ing years  of  the  calendar  of  God.  To  doubt  this  would 
be  to  set  at  nought  the  surest  conclusions  of  human 
reason,  the  best  aspirations  of  the  human  heart,  the  sug- 
gestions derived  from  the  progress  of  the  race  in  past 
ages,  the  prophetic  intimations  of  the  Hebrew  Scriptures 
and  of  the  great  seers  of  all  lands  and  times,  and  the 


HOPEDALE   COMMUNITY   VINDICATED   AT  LAST.        367 

glorious  promises  of  the  Gospel  of  Christ.  It  would  be 
to  discredit  the  unfathomed  possibilities  hid  in  the  soul 
of  humanity,  to  remand  to  the  realm  of  myths  and  shad- 
ows the  grandest  ideals  that  have  ever  gladdened  and 
inspired  the  great  teachers  and  moral  heroes  of  the  world, 
and  to  deny  the  significance  and  potency  of  the  prayer 
of  Jesus,  u  Thy  kingdom  come,  thy  will  be  done  on  earth 
as  it  is  in  heaven." 

When  those  possibilities  are  in  some  large  degree  devel- 
oped ;  when  those  ideals  are  in  good  measure  realized, 
and  that  prayer  substantially  fulfilled  in  a  regenerate  and 
glorified  humanity  and  in  a  divine  order  of  society,  then 
will  the  meaning  of  The  Hopedale  Community  and  its 
place  in  the  ongoings  of  the  Providence  of  God  be  fully 
interpreted  and  understood,  its  distinguishing  features 
will  have  become  factors  and  characteristics  of  universal 
human  life,  and  its  ultimate  purpose  will  have  reached 
its  consummation.  Then  will  unrighteousness  be  done 
away,  unkindness,  hatred,  wrath  and  war  will  be  unknown, 
and  every  unhallowed  usage,  custom,  institution  be  abol- 
ished ;  the  reign  of  justice,  love,  brotherhood,  peace,  will 
be  established,  men  will  dwell  together  as  one  great 
family  in  harmony  and  happiness,  and  God  even  in  this 
world  will  "be  all  in  all." 


APPENDIX    A. 


CONSTITUTION, 
BY-LAWS,    RULES    AND    REGULATIONS 

OF 

THE   HOPEDALE   COMMUNITY. 

IN  order  to  establish  a  state  of  society  governed  by  divine- 
moral  principles,  with  as  little  as  possible  of  mere  human 
constraint,  in  which,  while  the  members  may  be  sufficiently 
free  to  associate  or  separate  their  secular  interests,  according 
to  inclination  and  congeniality,  no  individual  shall  suffer  the 
evils  of  oppression,  poverty,  ignorance  or  vice  through  the 
influence  or  neglect  of  others,  we,  whose  names  are  hereunto 
subscribed,  do  unite  in  a  voluntary  Association  to  be  called 

THE  HOPEDALE  COMMUNITY. 
ARTICLE  I. 

SECTION  1.  No  person  shall  be  a  member  of  this  Commu- 
nity who  does  not  cordially  assent  to  the  following 

DECLARATION,  Viz. : 

I  believe  in  the  religion  of  JESUS  CHRIST,  as  he  taught  and 
exemplified  it,  according  to  the  Scriptures  of  the  New  Testa- 
ment. I  acknowledge  myself  a  bounden  subject  of  all  its  moral 
obligations.  Especially  do  I  hold  myself  bound  by  its  holy 
requirements,  never,  under  any  pretext  whatsoever,  to  kill, 
assault,  beat,  torture,  enslave,  rob,  oppress,  persecute,  defraud, 
corrupt,  slander,  revile,  injure,  envy  or  hate  any  human  being  — 
even  my  worst  enemy  ;  never  in  any  manner  to  violate  the  dictates 
of  pure  chastity;  never  to  take  or  administer  an  oath;  never  to 
manufacture,  buy,  sell,  deal  out  or  use  any  intoxicating  liquor 
as  a  beverage;  never  to  serve  in  the  army,  navy  or  militia  of 


CONSTITUTION   OF   THE   COMMUNITY.  369 

any  nation,  state  or  chieftain;  never  to  bring  an  action  at  law, 
hold  office,  vote,  join  a  legal  posse,  petition  a  legislature  or 
ask  governmental  interposition,  in  any  case  involving  a  final 
authorized  resort  to  physical  violence :  never  to  indulge  self-will, 
bigotry,  love  of  pre-eminence,  covetousness,  deceit,  profanity, 
idleness  or  an  unruly  tongue ;  never  to  participate  in  lotteries, 
games  of  chance,  betting  or  pernicious  amusements;  never  to 
resent  reproof  or  justify  myself  in  a  known  wrong;  never  to  aid, 
abet  or  approve  others  in  anything  sinful ;  but,  through  divine 
assistance,  always  to  recommend  and  promote,  with  my  entire 
influence,  the  holiness  and  happiness  of  all  mankind. 

SEC.  2.  Any  person  assenting,  after  satisfactory  probation- 
ship,  to  the  foregoing  Declaration,  and  recommended  in  writing 
by  seven  members  as  sponsors,  may  be  admitted  into  the 
membership  of  this  Community  by  ballotrvote  at  any  regular 
meeting;  provided  that  he  or  she  shall  thereupon,  in  open 
meeting,  subscribe  this  Constitution. 

SEC.  3.  Any  .person  may  resign  membership  at  discretion  by 
entering  a  minute  on  the  Records  to  that  effect. 

SEC.  4.  Any  unworthy  member  may  be  discharged  by  vote 
at  any  regular  meeting. 

SEC  5.  Any  member  having  no  investment  of  property  in 
this  Community,  who  shall  attend  none  of  its  regular  meetings, 
nor  otherwise  manifest  any  fraternal  interest  in  its  welfare  for 
two  years,  shall  be  deemed  to  have  relinquished  membership. 

SEC.  6.  No  meeting  shall  be  deemed  regular  unless  held 
pursuant  to  a  public  Notification  from  the  executive  authority 
of  the  Community,  announcing  the  time,  place  and  principal 
purposes  of  the  meeting,  and  posted  seven  days  previously  in 
one  of  the  Community's  places  of  general  concourse. 

SEC.  7.  Every  member  shall  have  one  and  but  one  vote  on 
all  questions;  and  the  concurrence  of  two  thirds  of  the  mem- 
bers present  and  acting  shall  be  necessary  to  the  decision  of 
every  question,  except  the  election  of  officers  after  repeated 
unsuccessful  trials,  the  whole  process  of  which  shall  be  regu- 
lated by  special  enactment. 

SEC.  8.     Nine  members  shall  constitute  a  quorum. 

ARTICLE  IT. 

SECTION  1.  The  members  of  this  Community  shall  own  and 
manage  such  real  and  movable  estate  in  Joint-Stock  proprietor- 

24 


370  THE   HOPEDALE    COMMUNITY. 

ship  as  they  may  deem  necessary  to  the  maintenance  of  a 
neighborhood  exclusively  inhabited  and  controlled  by  persons 
honestly  endeavoring  to  conform  to  the  principles  of  the  fore- 
going Declaration.  And  no  person  habitually  setting  at  naught 
those  principles  shall  permanently  reside  within  the  territorial 
limits  of  the  Community  by  public  consent. 

SEC.  2.  This  Joint-Stock  property  shall  consist  of  shares  of 
the  value  of  fifty  dollars  each,  for  which  the  owner  shall  hold 
certificates  responsibly  signed,  in  the  form  following,  to  wit: 

For  value  received,  A.  B.  or  order  is  hereby  entitled  to 

shares  in  the  Joint-Stock  property  of  The  Hopedale  Community, 

valued  at dollars,  together  with  such  dividends  as  may 

from  time  to  time  be  declared  thereon. 

SEC.  3.  All  the  real  estate  of  this  Community  shall  be  held, 
managed  and  disposed  of  for  the  use  and  benefit  thereof  by 
five  Trustees,  always  acting  in  conformity  with  the  Constitution, 
By-Laws,  Rules  and  Regulations,  and  Instructions  of  the  Com- 
munity for  the  time  being.  Three  of  these  Trustees,  but  never 
a  less  number,  shall  be  competent  to  receive  and  execute  con- 
veyances of  real  estate.  It  shall  be  their  duty  to  take  the 
utmost  care  that  all  titles  to  lands  and  tenements  conveyed 
to  or  from  them,  as  Trustees  of  The  Hopedale  Community,  be 
so  executed  and  recorded  as  to  preclude  all  ulterior  controversy 
either  at  law  or  in  equity.  And  for  the  security  of  all  parties 
concerned  in  their  official  transactions,  they  shall  execute  and 
cause  to  be  recorded  in  the  Registry  of  Deeds  for  the  county 
of  Worcester  an  explicit  Declaration  of  Trust,  setting  forth 
their  power  and  obligations ;  which  Declaration  shall  be  in  the 
form  following,  to  wit: 

To  all  persons  to  whom  these  presents  shall  come:  We,  A.  B., 
C.  D,  E.  F.,  G.  H.,  I.  J.,  all  of  the  village  of  Hopedale,  in  the 
town  of  Milford,  in  the  county  of  Worcester  and  Common- 
wealth of  Massachusetts,  Trustees  of  The  Hopedale  Community, 
send  Greeting:  —  Whereas  certain  lands  and  tenements  in  said 
Hopedale  have  been  conveyed,  and  certain  other  lands  and  tene- 
ments may  hereafter  be  conveyed,  to  us,  as  Trustees  as  afore- 
said, or  to  our  successors  in  trust,  as  joint  tenants;  Now  this 
present  Declaration  of  trust  witnesseth:  That  all  such  lands 
and  tenements,  with  their  appurtenances,  are  to  be  held,  man- 
aged and  disposed  of  for  the  use  and  benefit  of  The  Hopedale 
Community,  so  called  and  known,  and  in  conformity  with  the 


CONSTITUTION   OF   THE  COMMUNITY.  371 

Constitution,    Resolves,   By-Laws    and    Regulations    thereof,   as 
the  same  are  now,  or  may  hereafter  be  duly  established. 

Provided  nevertheless,  that  for  the  purpose  of  regulating  and 
clearly  establishing  and  defining  the  rights  and  powers  of  our- 
selves and  our  successors  in  trust,  and  of  perpetuating  the 
evidence  of  the  same,  more  especially  with  reference  to  any  con- 
tracts, conveyances  or  other  instruments  to  be  executed,  or  any 
processes  to  be  commenced,  defended  or  carried  on  by  us  or 
them,  it  has  been  mutually  agreed  and  is  hereby  declared,  that 
the  following  are  and  shall  remain  fundamental  Articles  of  said 
trust,  viz.: 

ARTICLE  1.  Whereas  it  is  contemplated  that  the  number 
of  Trustees  shall  at  all  times  be  five,  and  that  all  vacancies 
therein  shall  be  filled  as  soon  as  may  be;  Now  for  the  purpose 
of  ascertaining  at  all  times  in  future  who  the  Trustees  are,  it 
is  declared  and  agreed  that  any  three  or  more  of  the  above- 
named  Trustees,  or  of  their  successors  in  trust,  may,  as  often 
as  they  shall  find  occasion,  execute  and  cause  to  be  recorded 
in  the  Registry  of  Deeds  for  the  county  of  Worcester  a  Cer- 
tificate setting  forth  who  the  Trustees  for  the  time  being  are, 
and  the  persons  so  certified  as  Trustees  shall  be  thenceforth 
deemed  and  taken  to  hold  said  office  until  a  subsequent  change 
shall  be,  in  like  manner,  certified  and  recorded. 

ART.  2.  The  said  Trustees,  or  their  successors  (not  being 
less  than  three  in  number),  shall  have  the  right  from  time  to 
time,  and  at  all  times,  as  often  as  they  shall  think  proper,  to 
convey  and  re-convey  in  fee  simple,  or  for  other  less  estate, 
absolutely  or  conditionally,  any  of  said  lands  and  tenements  to 
such  persons,  for  such  valuable  or  nominal  considerations,  on 
such  terms  of  cash  or  credit,  and  in  trust  or  wholly  discharged 
therefrom,  as  they  shall  in  each  case  think  proper  ;  and  their 
Certificate  or  recital,  in  any  Deed,  Lease  or  other  instrument, 
that  the  same  is  executed  under  the  authority  of  The  Hopedale 
Community,  shall  be  full  and  conclusive  evidence  thereof  to 
all  intents  and  purposes.  And  in  no  case  shall  any  purchaser, 
mortgagee  or  lessee  be  bound  to  see  to  the  application  of  the 
moneys  paid  by  him. 

ART.  3.  Any  Trustee  now  or  hereafter  appointed,  may  divest 
himself  of  the  trust  by  executing  to  his  co-Trustees  an  instru- 
ment in  writing  resigning  his  office,  and  releasing  in  due  and 
proper  form  to  them,  as  joint  tenants  in  fee  simple,  all  his 
interest  in  the  Trust  Property. 


372  THE   HOPEDALE   COMMUNITY. 

And  in  testimony  of  the  foregoing  we  have  hereunto  set  our 
hands  and  seals  this day  of in  the  year 

A.  B.  [L.  s.] 

Executed  and  delivered  C.  D.  [L.  s.] 

in  presence  of  E.  F.  [L.  s.] 

K.  L.  G.  H.  [L.  s.] 

M.  N.  I.  J.  [L.  s.] 

ARTICLE  III. 

SECTION  1.  The  legislative  powers  of  this  Community  shall  be 
vested  in  the  members  thereof  present  and  acting  in  regular 
Community  meeting.  The  executive  powers,  not  necessarily 
appertaining  to  the  Trustees,  shall  be  vested  in  a  President 
and  Directory.  The  Directory  shall  consist  of  at  least  three 
members  besides  the  President.  The  judicial  powers  shall  be 
vested  in  such  tribunals  as  the  Community  may  from  time  to- 
time  establish. 

SEC.  2.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  Directory  to  conduct  the 
prudential  affairs,  industrial  operations  and  general  interests 
of  the  Community  in  such  manner  as  to  insure  to  every  mem- 
ber, probationer  and  dependent  adequate  employment,  educa- 
tional advantages  and  exemption  from  the  evils  of  poverty, 
ignorance  and  vice ;  and  also,  at  the  same  time,  if  possible,  to- 
secure  to  the  stockholders  their  capital  unimpaired,  with  a  clear 
annual  profit  thereon  of  four  per  cent. 

SEC.  3.  Any  excess  of  profits  on  the  Joint-Stock  operations,, 
over  the  said  four  per  cent.,  shall  be  devoted  to  educational 
and  other  purposes,  for  the  benefit  of  the  whole  Community. 

SEC.  4.  The  Directory,  concurrently  with  the  Trustees,  shall 
have  power  to  extend  and  improve  the  Village  Site,  to  open 
and  keep  in  order  streets,  commons  and  cemeteries,  and  to  sell 
house-lots  to  members  who  will  come  under  obligations  that 
such  lots,  with  all  their  buildings  and  betterments,  shall  revert 
to  the  Community  at  a  fair  appraisal,  whenever  the  same  shall 
cease  to  be  owned  within  its  membership,  or  whenever,  in  the 
opinion  of  the  Community,  expressed  through  their  Trustees, 
the  premises  shall  have  been  perverted  to  uses  obviously  repug- 
nant to  the  principles  of  the  Declaration. 

SEC.  5.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  Directory,  as  well  as  of 
the  Trustees,  to  keep  accurate  and  permanent  records  of  their 
official  transactions,  and  to  hold  their  books  always  subject  to- 


CONSTITUTION   OF  THE   COMMUNITY.  373 

the  examination  of  any  member  or  stockholder  desirous  of 
inspecting  them.  And  the  Directory  shall  present  to  the  Com- 
munity an  explicit  report  of  the  Joint-Stock  finances  at  least 
once  a  year. 

SEC.  6.  All  contracts  and  obligations  entered  into  by  or  with 
this  Community  under  any  former  Constitution,  so  far  as  the 
same  may  affect  any  right  or  title  to  property,  shall  be  held 
inviolate. 

ARTICLE  IV. 

SECTION  1.  This  Community  shall  annually  elect,  on  the 
second  Wednesday  in  January,  their  President  and  Directors, 
a  Recorder,  a  Treasurer,  and  all  other  officers  for  the  time 
being  required. 

SEC.  2.  Special  elections,  rendered  necessary  by  any  unusual 
contingency,  may  take  place  as  occasion  shall  require,  but  no 
officer  thus  specially  elected,  excepting  a  Trustee,  shall  hold 
over  the  annual  election;  provided  nevertheless,  that  all  Com- 
munity officers  shall  continue  to  discharge  their  public  duties 
until  successors  shall  have  been  chosen  and  consented  to  serve 
in  their  places. 

SEC.  3.  Neither  legislation,  nor  the  administration  of  gov- 
ernment within  this  Community,  shall  be  brought  into  conflict 
with  the  fundamental  principles  set  forth  in  the  Declaration,  or 
with  the  explicit  stipulations  of  this  Constitution. 

SEC.  4.  This  Constitution  may  be  altered  or  amended  by 
two-thirds  of  the  members  present  and  acting  at  any  regular 
meeting  subsequent  to  the  one  first  notified  for  the  considera- 
tion of  such  alteration  or  amendment. 

Now,  therefore,  in  full  ratification  of  this  Constitution  in  all 
its  Articles,  Sections  and  Clauses,  we  have  hereunto  subscribed 
our  respective  names;  mutually,  jointly  and  severally  promising 
faithfully  to  observe,  respect  and  support  the  same,  together 
with  all  legitimate  enactments  of  the  Community  thereunder 
made,  according  to  the  best  of  our  knowledge  and  ability,  so 
long  as  we  shall  continue  in  membership;  and  especially  cove- 
nanting, each  with  the  Community,  for  himself  or  herself,  his 
or  her  heirs,  executors  and  administrators,  never  to  withdraw 
property  contrary  to  the  stipulations  of  this  Constitution,  or 
of  any  By-Law,  Rule  or  Regulation  thereunder  legitimately 
established.  In  testimony  whereof,  witness  our  respective  sig- 
natures, with  the  dates  indicated. 


374  THE   HOPEDALE   COMMUNITY. 

BY-LAWS,  RULES  AND  REGULATIONS. 

ENACTMENT  I. 
Respecting  the  Process  of  Electing  Community  Officers. 

SECTION  1.  All  the  officers  of  this  Community  shall  be  elected 
by  ballot  according  to  the  process  hereinafter  prescribed. 

SEC.  2.  The  presiding  officer  of  the  Community  meeting  at 
which  any  officer  is  to  be  elected,  shall  distinctly  announce 
the  office  to  be  filled  and  immediately  cause  to  be  distributed 
among  the  voters  an  ample  supply  of  blank  paper  slips  suitable 
for  use  as  ballots.  The  voters  shall  inscribe,  each  on  his  or 
her  respective  slip,  the  name  of  the  person  preferred  for  the 
office.  The  votes  shall  then  be  collected,  assorted,  counted  and 
announced.  And  if  any  candidate  shall  have  received  two-thirds 
of  all  the  votes  cast,  he  or  she  shall  be  declared  elected. 

SEC.  3.  If  no  candidate  shall  be  found  to  have  received 
two-thirds  of  the  votes  cast  on  the  first  trial,  then  there  shall 
be  a  second  trial,  with  the  same  order  of  proceedings.  And 
if  the  second  trial  shall  fail,  then  the  two  highest  candidates 
shall  be  voted  for  with  white  and  colored  balls.  The  presiding 
officer  shall  distinctly  announce  for  whom  the  white  and  for 
whom  the  colored  balls  are  to  be  cast.  Thereupon  the  balls 
shall  be  distributed,  collected,  assorted  and  counted.  And  the 
candidate  having  a  majority  shall  be  declared  elected. 

SEC.  4.  If,  on  the  second  trial,  no  two,  or  but  one  of  the 
candidates  shall  be  found  to  have  the  highest  number  of  votes,, 
so  as  to  be  candidates  for  election  by  the  balls,  as  contem- 
plated in  section  3,  then  the  presiding  .officer  shall  proceed  to 
determine  who  are  the  highest  candidates  by  calling  on  the 
nominators  of  each  nominee  to  rise  and  be  counted.  This 
process  shall  be  continued  till  the  two  highest  candidates  shall 
have  been  incontestibly  ascertained;  and  thereupon  they  shall 
be  balloted  for,  as  prescribed  in  section  3. 

SEC.  5.  If  the  trial  to  elect  by  the  balls  shall  fail  in  conse- 
quence of  a  tie,  it  shall  be  repeated  until  successful;  provided 
that  if  unsuccessful  the  third  time,  the  presiding  officer  shall 
give  the  casting  vote. 

ENACTMENT  II. 

Respecting  the  Joint-Stock. 

SECTION  1.  All  Certificates  of  Joint-Stock  issued  by  the 
authorities  of  the  Community,  shall  be  carefully  numbered  in 


BY-LAWS,   RULES   AND   REGULATIONS.  375 

their  proper  order,  and  also  the  shares  covered  by  such  Certifi- 
cates. The  numbers  of  both  shall  appear  on  the  Certificates, 
and  all  Certificates,  as  likewise  all  transfers  of  the  same,  shall 
be  recorded  in  a  book  to  be  kept  for  the  purpose. 

SEC.  2.  This  Community  shall  be  considered  under  no  obli- 
gation whatsoever  to  redeem  its  scrip  at  par  to  an  aggregate 
amount  exceeding  four  per  cent,  of  its  entire  Joint-Stock  prop- 
erty per  year,  commencing  with  January;  nor  to  redeem  over 
five  hundred  dollars  worth  of  said  scrip  for  the  accommoda- 
tion of  the  same  stockholder  in  any  one  year  at  whatsoever 
time  commencing.  Redemption  money  shall  be  so  apportioned 
to  the  four  quarters  of  the  year,  as  that  each  quarter  may 
have  at  least  its  own  equitable  share  of  resources  to  meet 
demands,  and  all  disbursements  from  the  Treasury  shall  be 
arranged  accordingly. 

SEC.  3.  The  notices  of  stockholders  demanding  redemption 
of  scrip  shall  be  made  in  writing  and  addressed  to  the  Presi- 
dent, Directory  or  Treasurer  of  the  Community.  All  such 
notices  shall  take  precedence  by  the  calender  month  of  their 
date,  not  the  particular  day  of  the  month;  those  of  the  same 
month  being  placed  on  an  equal  footing  with  each  other  in 
respect  to  their  proportionate  dividends  of  the  then  available 
redemption  funds. 

SEC.  4.  Hereafter  the  Treasurer  of  this  Community  shall 
deliver  out  no  scrip  for  Joint-Stock  (unless  by  authority  from 
the  Directory  under  a  special  agreement  with  some  non-resi- 
dent investor)  without  taking  an  Obligatory  Receipt  therefor 
expressed  substantially  as  follows,  viz.: 

Received  of  A.  B.,  Treasurer  of  The  Hopedale  Community, 
for  property  invested  in  the  Joint-Stock  thereof,  the  following 
specified  scrip,  viz.:  [Here  shall  be  inserted  an  accurate 
description.]  Xow  be  it  remembered  that  I  receive  and  hold 
this  scrip,  knowing,  consenting  and  agreeing  that  said  Com- 
munity shall  be  considered  under  no  obligation  whatsoever  to 
redeem  its  scrip  at  par  to  an  aggregate  amount  exceeding 
four  per  cent,  of  its  entire  Joint-Stock  per  year,  commencing 
with  January;  nor  to  redeem  over  five  hundred  dollars  worth 
of  said  scrip  for  the  accommodation  of  the  same  stockholder 
in  any  one  year,  at  whatsoever  time  commencing;  that  redemp- 
tion money  shall  be  so  apportioned  to  the  four  quarters  of  the 
year  as  that  each  quarter  may  have  its  own  equitable  share 


376  THE   HOPEDALE   COMMUNITY. 

of  resources  to  meet  demands;  that  notices  of  stockholders 
demanding  redemption  of  scrip  shall  be  made  in  writing  and 
addressed  to  the  President,  Directory,  or  Treasurer  of  the 
Community  at  least  sixty  days  before  the  expected  payment 
of  redemption  money;  and  that  all  such  notices  shall  take 
precedence  by  the  calender  month  and  not  by  the  particular 
day  of  the  month.  Moreover,  I  do  hereby  bind  myself,  my 
heirs,  executors,  administrators  and  assigns,  never  to  demand 
or  require  the  redemption  of  the  above  specified  scrip  con- 
trary to  these  conditions. 

Signed  at this day  of A.  D. . 

In  presence  of  E.  F.,  G.  H.  C.  D. 

SEC.  5.  All  Joint-Stock  scrip  not  redeemed  by  the  Com- 
munity within  two  years  after  the  prescribed  notice  of  demand, 
and  which  shall  be  due  to  a  claimant  not  resident  on  the 
Community  domain,  shall  draw  interest  at  the  rate  of  six  per 
cent,  per  annum  till  redeemed.  And  nothing  in  this  enact- 
ment shall  be  construed  to  hinder  the  redemption  of  Joint- 
Stock  script  to  any  amount,  at  any  time,  by  the  Community's 
authorities,  provided  it  be  done  without  inconvenience  and 
entirely  at  their  own  option. 

ENACTMENT  III. 

Respecting  the  Village  Site,  House  Lots  and  Reverted  Estates. 

SECTION  1.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  Trustees  to  arrange 
and  name  the  Streets,  Lanes,  Squares  and  public  places  of  our 
Village  Site;  to  number  all  the  lots  and  parcels  of  land  com- 
prised in  said  site,  and  to  appraise  such  as  shall  be  for  sale; 
to  prepare  an  accurate  Plan  of  the  whole  Site  and  revise  the 
same  as  occasion  may  require;  to  keep  two  or  more  copies  of 
said  Plan  for  exhibition  to  members  and  inquiring  friends;  and 
to  cause  the  same,  with  all  important  additions  or  changes 
successively  made  to  be  entered  for  record  in  the  County  Reg- 
istry of  Deeds. 

SEC.  2.  Whenever  any  House  Lot  shall  be  sold  in  accord- 
ance with  the  Constitution,  the  Trustees  shall  execute  a  con- 
veyance and  title  of  the  same  to  the  purchaser,  in  the  form 
following,  to  wit: 

Know  all  men  by  these  Presents:  That  we,  A.  B.,  C.  D.,  E.  F., 
G.  H.,  I.  J.,  all  of  the  village  of  Hopedale,  in  the  town  of 
Milford,  in  the  county  of  Worcester  and  Commonwealth  of 


BY-LAWS,    RULES   AND   REGULATIONS.  377 

Massachusetts,  acting  as  Trustees  of  The  Hopedale  Community 
pursuant  to  the  terms  of  a  certain  Declaration  of  Trust  exe- 
cuted by  Adin  Ballou  and  others,  Trustees,  dated  June  1, 
1850,  and  recorded  in  the  Registry  of  Deeds  for  the  county  of 

Worcester,  in   consideration   of dollars  to  us  paid  by 

of    said    Hopedale,    a    member    of    said    Community,    the 

receipt  of  which  sum  is  hereby  acknowledged,  do  hereby  grant, 
sell  and  convey  to  the  said all  our  right,  title,  inter- 
est and  estate  in  and  to  a  certain  parcel  of  land  situated  in 
said  Hopedale,  bounded,  described  and  measuring  as  follows, 
viz.:  [Here  give  full  particulars]  with  all  the  buildings  thereon 
and  all  the  privileges  and  appurtenances  to  the  premises 
belonging;  intending  hereby  to  convey  a  part  of  the  real 
estate  which  was  conveyed  to  said  Trustees  by  the  Deed  of 
David  A.  Mundy,  dated  June  1,  1850,  and  recorded  in  Worces- 
ter county  Registry  of  Deeds. 

To   have   and  to  hold  the  granted  premises  to  the  said 

,  his   heirs   and   assigns,  to   his   and  their  use  and  behoof 

forever;  but  subject  nevertheless  to  the  condition  that,  if  at 
any  time  or  times  hereafter  any  three  or  more  of  the  Trustees 
of  The  Hopedale  Community  (for  the  time  then  being,  their 
identity  and  official  character  being  shown  in  manner  stated 
in  said  Declaration  of  Trust)  shall,  by  their  certificate  in 
writing,  under  their  hands  and  seals,  to  be  recorded  in  the 
Registry  of  Deeds  for  said  county  of  Worcester,  set  forth  and 
declare,  either  that,  in  the  opinion  of  the  Trustees  and  of 
The  Hopedale  Community,  the  premises  are  then  perverted 
to  purposes  notoriously  inconsistent  with  the  principles  of 
said  Community,  or  that,  in  said  opinion,  the  premises  have 
then  ceased  to  be  owned  within  the  membership  of  said  Com- 
munity; and  if  the  Trustees  for  the  time  then  being  shall, 
moreover,  within  three  months  after  the  recording  of  said 
certificate,  pay,  or  tender  in  money,  to  the  owner  or  owners 
of  the  premises  for  the  time  then  being,  his  or  her  guardian, 
agent  or  attorney,  for  a  full  reconveyance  of  the  granted  premi- 
ses, the  reasonable  value  thereof,  to  be  ascertained  as  hereinafter 
stated;  and  if  the  owner  or  owners  for  the  time  then  being, 
by  themselves  or  their  respective  guardians,  agents  or  attorneys, 
shall  upon  such  payment  or  tender,  fail  to  release  and  convey 
the  granted  premises  to  the  said  Trustees  for  the  time  then 
being,  in  fee  simple,  free  from  all  incumbrances  to  be  here- 


378  THE   HOPEDALE   COMMUNITY. 

after  made  or  suffered  thereon,  then,  and  on  the  foregoing 
condition,  this  Deed  of  conveyance  shall  be  null  and  void,  both 
at  law  and  in  equity. 

And  provided  moreover,  that  such  reasonable  value  shall,  in 
each  case,  be  ascertained  by  the  written  award  of  a  majority, 
at  least,  of  appraisers,  to  consist  of  the  County  Commissioners 
of  the  county  of  Worcester,  or  of  such  other  persons  as  the 
parties  in  interest,  for  the  time  then  being,  shall,  within  one 
month  after  the  recording  of  said  certificate,  mutually  agree 
upon  in  writing. 

In  testimony  whereof,  and  that  this  Deed  is  executed  under 
the  authority  of  The  Hopedale  Community,  we,  the  Trustees 

above-named  have  hereunto  set  our  hands  and  seals,  this 

day  of  ,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  eighteen  hundred  and 

A.  B.  [L.  s.] 

Executed  and  delivered  C.  D.  [L.  s.] 

in  presence  of  E.  F.  [L.  s.] 

K.  L.  G.  H.  [L.  s.] 

M.  N.  I.   J.  [L.  s.] 

SEC.  3.  Whenever  any  member  of  this  Community,  holding 
Real  Estate  in  the  Village  Site  under  the  title  prescribed  in 
the  preceding  section,  shall  convey  the  same  to  another  mem- 
ber, the  Instrument  of  conveyance  shall  be  substantially  in  the 
form  following,  to  wit: 

Know  all  men  by  these  Presents:  That  I,  C.  D.,  of  the  village  of 
Hopedale,  in  the  town  of  Milford,  in  the  county  of  Worcester 

and  Commonwealth  of  Massachusetts, ,  in  consideration  of 

dollars  to  me  paid  by of   said   Hopedale, ,  a 

member  of  The  Hopedale  Community,  and  for  other  valuable 
and  sufficient  considerations,  the  receipt  whereof  is  hereby 
acknowledged,  do  hereby  give,  grant,  bargain,  sell  and  convey 

unto  the   said ,  a   certain   parcel   of    land   situated   in 

said  Hopedale,  and  bounded,  described  and  measuring  as  fol- 
lows, viz.:  [Here  give  full  particulars.]  with  all  the  buildings 
thereon  and  all  the  privileges  and  appurtenances  to  the  prem- 
ises belonging;  intending  hereby  to  convey  the  same  estate 
which  was  conveyed  to  me  by  the  Deed  of  A.  B.  and  others, 

Trustees   of    The   Hopedale   Community,    dated , 

and  subject  to  all  the  conditions,  reservations  and  restrictions 
therein  contained  or  referred  to. 


BY-LAWS,    RULES   AND   REGULATIONS.  379 

To  have  and  to  hold  the  above  granted  premises  to  the  said 

,  his    heirs   and    assigns,   to    his    and    their    use    and 

behoof   forever.     And  I,  the  said   C.  D.  for   myself,   my  heirs, 

executors  and   administrators   do   covenant  with   the   said 

,  his  heirs  and  assigns,  that   I    am   lawfully  seized   in   fee 

simple  of   the  aforegranted  premises,  that  they  are   free   from 
all  incumbrances,  except  as  aforesaid*,  that  I  have  good  right 

to  sell   and    convey  the   same   to  the   said ,  his   heirs 

and  assigns  forever,  subject  as  aforesaid,  and  that  I  will,  and 
my  heirs,  executors  and  adminstrators  shall  warrant  and  defend 

the  same  to  the  said ,  his   heirs   and   assigns   forever, 

against  the  lawful  claims  and   demands  of   all   persons,  except 
as  above  mentioned. 

In  witness  whereof,  I,  the  said  C.  D.,  and  also  my  wife  E., 
who  executes  this  deed  with  me  in  token  of  her  relinquishing  all 
right  to  dower  in  the  premises,  have  hereunto  set  our  hands 
and  seals  this day  of ,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord . 

Executed  and  delivered  in  presence  of         C.  D.         [L.  8.] 
K.  L.  M.  N.  E.  D.        [L.  s.] 

SEC.  4.  The  Trustees,  when  requested  by  the  Directory,"shall 
execute  Bonds  for  Deeds  of  House  Lots  to  members  and  pro- 
bationers, conditioned  according  to  contract  made  between  the 
parties,  always  subject  to  existing  Regulations  respecting  the 
reversion  of  Estates  to  the  Community. 

SEC.  5.  No  Real  Estate  owned  by  any  member  of  this  Com- 
munity within  its  general  Domain  shall  ever  be  encumbered 
by  mortgage  or  bond,  without  the  consent  of  the  Directory,  or 
of  the  Community  on  appeal  from  the  Directory's  refusal. 
And  record  shall  be  carefully  made  of  all  votes  giving  consent 
to  such  encumbrances. 

SEC.  6.  Whenever  any  Real  Estate  shall  revert  to  this  Com- 
munity, as  contemplated  in  Section  4,  Article  III  of  the  Con- 
stitution, reference  shall  not  be  had  in  the  appraisal  thereof 
to  expenditures  of  any  description  laid  out  thereon  by  the 
owner  or  owners,  but  only  to  its  actual  value,  for  the  time 
being,  to  the  Community;  unless  it  shall  be  proved  by  written 
evidence  that  the  Directory  had  given  their  consent  to  partic- 
ular outlays,  with  the  understanding  that  the  Community 
should  share  the  risk  thereof;  in  which  case  the  appraisal 
shall  be  made  accordingly. 

*If  there  are  others  they  must  be  specified  here. 


380  THE   HOPEDALE   COMMUNITY. 

SEC.  7.  In  order  to  prevent  all  misunderstanding  and  diffi- 
culty respecting  the  appraisal  of  Real  Estate  on  its  reversion 
to  the  Community,  it  is  hereby  made  the  duty  of  every  individ- 
ual proprietor,  before  erecting  any  building  or  constructing 
any  appurtenance  on  his  or  her  House  Lot,  at  a  cost  of  one 
hundred  dollars  or  more,  to  give  notice  thereof  to  the  Trustees, 
and  obtain  their  certificate  of  consent  to  the  proposed  outlay. 
If  the  Trustees  shall  refuse  their  consent,  an  appeal  may  be 
made  to  the  Community.  If  neither  the  Trustees  nor  the 
Community  shall  give  a  certificate  of  consent,  then  the  individ- 
ual proprietor  may  proceed  to  make  the  outlay  at  his  or  her 
own  risk;  in  which  case  the  Trustees  shall  demand  a  certificate 
of  such  proprietor's  determination.  And  the  Trustees  shall 
take  care  that  all  such  proceedings  and  certificates  be  faith- 
fully recorded. 

ENACTMENT  IV. 
Respecting  the  Contraction  of  Debts,  etc. 

SECTION  1.  The  authorities  of  this  Community  shall  con- 
tract no  debt  against  it  whatsoever,  in  the  name  thereof,  except 
for  reverted  Real  Estate,  without  the  unanimous  consent  of 
the  members  present  and  acting  in  a  regular  meeting  duly 
notified  for  that  purpose. 

SEC.  2.  The  Trustees  shall  never  sell,  alienate  nor  encumber 
any  portion  of  the  Community  territory,  excepting  House  Lots 
in  accordance  with  the  Constitution,  without  the  positive 
instructions  or  formal  consent  of  the  members  in  regular 
meeting  assembled. 

SEC.  3.  No  funds  of  .the  Community  shall  ever  be  expended 
by  the  official  authorities  thereof,  without  having  first  been 
placed  at  their  disposal  by  some  vote  of  specific  or  general 
appropriation,  passed  by  the  members  present  and  acting  in 
regular  Community  meeting. 

SEC.  4.  There  shall  be  a  uniform  settlement  of  business 
accounts,  and  a  punctual  payment  of  current  demands,  through- 
out this  Community  on  or  about  the  fifteenth  of  every  month. 
And  it  shall  be  the  imperative  duty  of  the  President  and 
Directory  to  see  that  this  system  of  Monthly  Settlements  is 
strictly  observed  in  the  several  Branches,  by  all  persons  con- 
cerned. 

SEC.  5.  All  officers  of  this  Community  shall  be  entitled  to 
compensation  for  their  official  services,  never  exceeding  the 


BY-LAWS,    RULES   AND    REGULATIONS.  381 

average  compensation  of  working  men  at  large  in  the  several 
Branches  as  reckoned  by  time  or  by  piece.  And  it  shall  be  the 
duty  of  the  Directory  to  append  to  their  annual  financial  report 
a  separate  and  specific  statement  of  all  charges  allowed  for  offi- 
cial services,  showing  who  have  received  compensation  and  to- 
what  amount. 

ENACTMENT  V. 

Respecting  Industry,  Purveyance  and  Trade. 

In  order  to  distribute,  define  and  intensify  the  oversight  of 
business;  to  encourage  useful  talent  and  skill;  to  give  every 
member  of  the  Community,  if  possible,  an  appropriate  sphere 
of  enterprise ;  to  increase  productive  industry  and  income ;  to 
facilitate  the  necessary  purveyance  and  exchange ;  and  to  estab- 
lish a  well-ordered  system  of  trade, — it  is  enacted  as  follows,  viz. : 

SECTION  1.  Every  general  department  or  kind  of  Commu- 
nity operations,  which  naturally  and  practically  admits  of  sub- 
division into  two  or  more  branches,  shall  be  so  subdivided, 
and  each  branch  confided  to  the  management  of  some  person 
or  persons  evincing  a  hearty  interest  therein,  and  competent,, 
in  the  judgment  of  the  Directory,  to  prosecute  its  affairs  effi- 
ciently. 

SEC.  2.  All  industrial,  managemental,  commercial  and  official 
business  performed  for  this  Community,  by  the  members,  pro- 
bationers and  dependents  thereof,  shall  be  compensated  by  the 
piece,  the  quantity,  the  job  or  the  per.  cent.,  according  to 
terms  mutually  agreed  upon  between  the  parties  concerned  for 
the  time  being;  extremely  impracticable  cases  alone  excepted. 

SEC.  3.  Whenever  two  or  more  members  of  the  Community 
shall  apply  to  the  Directory,  as  an  association  or  co-partnership 
to  take  charge  of  any  particular  kind  of  business  open  to  such 
application,  and  shall  give  satisfactory  assurance  of  their  trust- 
worthiness, it  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  Directory  to  comply 
with  their  request  on  such  terms  and  for  such  period  of  time 
as  shall  not  be  incompatible  with  pre-existing  engagements 
nor  with  the  general  welfare.  In  all  such  cases  the  applicants- 
shall  designate  their  foreman  or  manager,  who  shall  officially 
subscribe  a  written  statement,  obligation  or  contract  setting 
forth  the  principal  particulars  agreed  on;  which  document 
shall  be  recorded  by  the  Directory  in  a  book  to  be  kept  for 
such  purposes. 


382  THE   HOPEDALE   COMMUNITY. 

SEC.  4.  Whenever  any  member,  probationer  or  dependent 
of  this  Community,  performing  service  in  any  department, 
branch  or  kind  of  business  thereof,  shall  request  the  privilege 
of  undertaking  any  piece-work,  job  or  specific  operation  requir- 
ing more  skill,  risk  or  responsibility  than  ordinary,  or  affording 
more  scope  for  practical  discretion,  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  the 
superintendent,  manager,  foreman  or  other  authority  having 
the  power  of  disposal,  to  grant  such  request;  provided  it  can 
be  done  consistently  with  pre-existing  engagements,  and  with- 
out detriment  to  the  general  welfare. 

SEC.  5.  A  central  branch  of  business  operatives  shall  be 
established,  to  be  called  The  Hopedale  Commercial  Exchange. 
It  shall  consist  of  competent  and  responsible  persons  volunta- 
rily associated  for  the  purpose  of  purchasing  the  productions  of 
the  various  branches  of  Community  industry  at  fair,  specific 
prices,  selling  the  same  for  cash  or  goods  as  they  may  deem 
expedient,  supplying  raw  materials  for  manufacture,  also  neces- 
saries for  consumption,  and  thus,  by  skillful  exchanges,  ensur- 
ing ample,  well-compensated  employment  to  all  Community 
operatives.  No  branch  or  individual  shall  be  required  to  deal 
with  or  through  this  Commercial  Exchange,  except  as  may  be 
deemed  mutually  satisfactory  to  the  parties  concerned.  It  shall 
have  power  to  constitute  and  organize  itself  in  such  a  manner 
and  under  such  regulations  as  two  thirds  of  the  associates 
may,  from  time  to  time,  determine.  It  shall  keep  reliable 
records  of  its  proceedings,  well-arranged  account  books,  and 
carefully-perserved  files  of  all  papers  necessary  either  to  the 
proof  or  explanation  of  its  commercial  transactions.  Its  affairs 
shall  at  all  times  be  subject  to  the  inspection  of  the  Directory, 
who  shall  require  well-avouched  reports  of  its  financial  standing 
during  the  .  first  weeks  in  January  and  July,  semi-annually. 
It  shall  be  amply  paid  for  its  commercial  services  and  risks,  by 
a  certain  percentage  on  all  purchases  and  sales  made  for  the 
Community  and  actually  realized,  as  the  amount  thereof  shall 
be  ascertained,  semi-annually,  in  January  and  July.  This  per- 
centage shall  be  fixed,  from  time  to  time,  as  justice  may  require, 
by  mutual  agreement  between  its  authorized  officers  on  the 
one  part,  and  the  Directory  on  the  other  part.  All  property 
actually  sold  and  delivered  by  the  Community  to  the  Exchange, 
and  by  the  latter  to  the  former,  shall  be  receipted  for  at  the 
date  of  delivery  by  some  authorized  person,  and  shall  thence- 


BY-LAWS,   RULES   AND   REGULATIONS.  383 

forth  be  considered  at  the  sole  risk  of  the  party  holding  the 
same.  Property  not  actually  sold  by  the  Community  to  the 
Exchange,  but  delivered  merely  for  sale  on  commission,  shall 
be  receipted  for  as  such,  and  shall  remain  at  the  risk  of  the 
Community  until  sold.  The  Exchange  shall  be  held  under  a 
perpetual  guaranty  to  make  seasonable  payment  to  the  Commu- 
nity for  all  property  purchased  thereof  under  this  Enactment, 
together  with  a  minimum  per  cent,  profit  on  the  cost  valuation  of 
so  much  of  said  property  as  it  shall  actually  realize  sales  upon. 
Also,  to  return  duly  whatever  values  it  shall  realize  on  commis- 
sion sales  made  for  the  Community,  deducting  the  stipulated 
compensation  for  services.  Also,  on  the  first  of  January,  annu- 
ally to  pay  over  all  net  profits,  if  any,  which  shall  have  been 
realized  on  the  sale  of  Community  property  above  the  stipulated 
compensation  and  the  aforesaid  minimum  per  cent,  profit. 
Also,  to  conduct  all  its  affairs  in  such  an  upright,  conscientious 
and  honorable  manner  as  shall  not  bring  just  reproach  on  the 
great  cause  of  Practical  Christianity  espoused  by  this  Com- 
munity, but  ofi  the  contrary,  commend  it  to  the  respect  and 
confidence  of  all  well-disposed  men. 

SEC.  6.  No  superintendent,  manager,  foreman,  agent  or  com- 
mercial exchanger  shall  be  at  liberty  to  contract  any  debt 
whatsoever  in  the  name  of  The  Hopedale  Community;  but  all 
notes,  bills,  receipts,  accounts  and  securities  necessary  to  the 
proper  transaction  of  business  with  persons  not  belonging  to 
the  Community,  shall  be  so  expressed  as  to  guard  the  Com- 
munity effectually,  if  possible,  against  legal  liabilities  as  a 
party  under  contract. 

ENACTMENT  VI. 

Respecting  Religious  Meetings,  Instruction  and  Discipline. 

SECTION  1.  This  Community  shall  hold  public  religious 
meetings  regularly  on  the  first  day  of  the  week,  forenoon  and 
afternoon;  at  which  such  devotional  exercises  and  ministrations 
of  the  gospel  shall  be  sustained  as  the  Community  may  from 
time  to  time  approve.  All  members,  probationers,  dependents 
and  residents  of  the  Community,  not  prevented  by  conscien- 
tious scruples,  indispensable  duties,  sickness  or  other  justifying 
necessity,  shall  be  expected  punctually  and  regularly  to  attend 
these  meetings.  Also,  to  abstain  from  all  uses  of  the  day  not 
obviously  promotive  of  physical  health,  social  order,  humane 


384  THE   HOPEDALE   COMMUNITY. 

sympathies,  moral  improvement,  spiritual  progress  and  the 
regeneration  of  mankind. 

SEC.  2.  This  Community  shall  hold  a  regular  Monthly  Meet- 
ing for  discipline  and  improvement,  in  conformity  with  the 
principles  of  Practical  Christianity;  and,  through  the  appropri- 
ate action  of  said  Monthly  Meeting,  shall  exercise  the  entire 
responsibility  of  directing  and  sustaining  public  religious 
instruction,  as  well  as  internal  moral  discipline.  Also,  the 
responsibility  of  promulgating  the  principles  of  Practical  Chris- 
tianity abroad,  by  means  of  the  press  and  of  the  living  voice, 
as  the  Community  may  from  time  to  time  determine. 

SEC.  3.  The  Community  shall  annually  elect  the  following 
officers,  viz.:  a  Steward,  a  Promulgation  Committee  and  a 
Council  of  Religion,  Conciliation  and  Justice.  The  Recorder 
shall  keep  accurate  and  faithful  records  of  all  Monthly  Meet- 
ing proceedings  in  a  book  provided  exclusively  for  that  purpose. 
The  Steward  shall  have  charge  of  every  thing  pertaining  to 
the  comfort  and  accommodation  of  Community  meetings.  The 
Promulgation  Committee  shall  consist  of  five  members.  It 
shall  be  the  official  duty  of  this  Committee  to  execute  all 
orders  and  instructions  given  them  by  the  Community  in 
Monthly  Meeting;  to  superintend  the  operation  of  all  instru- 
mentalities approved  and  employed  for  the  promulgation  of 
Community  principles,  whether  at  home  or  abroad;  to  take 
charge  of  all  property  devoted  to  such  promulgation  of  prin- 
ciples; to  attend  to  all  contracts  authorized  by  vote  of  said 
Meeting;  to  collect  and  disburse  all  funds  raised  for  promul- 
gation purposes ;  to  keep  reliable  accounts  and  records  of  their 
transactions;  and  to  make  a  detailed  report  of  their  doings  at 
least  once  a  year.  The  Council  of  Religion,  Conciliation  and 
Justice  shall  consist  of  not  less  than  three  nor  more  than 
seven  members,  who  shall  be  subject  to  such  instructions  and 
restrictions  as  the  Community,  in  Monthly  Meeting,  may,  from 
time  to  time,  impose.  Their  official  duties  shall  be  herein- 
after specified. 

SEC.  4.  This  Community  shall  never  assume  to  commission, 
appoint  or  forbid  any  person  to  preach  the  gospel  or  to  act  as 
a  public  religious  and  moral  teacher,  but  shall  always  leave 
that  matter  to  the  conscience  and  judgment  of  individuals  a& 
between  themselves  and  God.  Yet,  through  the  action  of  their 
Monthly  Meeting,  the  Community  may  invite  any  preacher  or 


BY-LAWS,    RULES   AND   REGULATIONS.  385 

teacher  in  whom  they  have  confidence  to  minister  to  them, 
or  to  aid  them  in  promulgating  Practical  Christianity  abroad. 
In  all  such  cases,  it  shall  be  considered  the  duty  of  the  Com. 
munity  to  place  their  invited  preachers  or  teachers  on  a  level 
of  temporal  subsistence  with  the  generality  of  their  fellow- 
members  who  are  otherwise  employed,  and  to  guarantee  to 
them  pecuniary  succor  proportionate  to  time  expended  and  ser- 
vices rendered. 

SEC.  5.  The  funds  necessary  to  sustain  public  religious  meet- 
ings and  the  promulgation  of  Practical  Christianity,  whether 
at  home  or  abroad,  shall  be  provided  in  such  ways  as  the  Com- 
munity may  from  time  to  time  determine. 

SEC.  6.  It  shall  be  the  official  duty  of  the  Council  of  Relig- 
ion, Conciliation  and  Justice,  to  supervise  all  matters  of  religion, 
morality  and  Christian  discipline;  to  reprove,  admonish  and 
endeavor  to  correct  all  anti-Christian  customs,  habits  and  prac- 
tices springing  up  within  the  Community;  to  advise,  mediate, 
conciliate  and  adjudicate  in  all  cases  of  controversy  between 
member  and  member,  and  between  members  and  officers  of 
the  Community;  to  examine  and  certify  their  opinion  of  the 
religious  and  moral  fitness  of  all  applicants  for  probationship 
or  membership;  and,  generally  to  exercise  the  proper  func- 
tions of  a  Judicial  Council,  on  Christian  principles,  concerning 
all  matters  of  controversy  not  otherwise  seasonably  adjusted; 
provided  that  all  decisions  of  said  Council  shall  be  subject 
to  a  final  appeal  to  the  Community. 

SEC.  7.  Hereafter  no  person  shall  be  received  as  a  probationer 
of  this  Community  by  the  Directory,  without  a  Certificate  from 
said  Council  that  he  or  she  has  been  examined  in  respect  to 
religious  and  moral  qualifications,  and  is  approved. 

SEC.  8.  It  shall  be  the  special  duty  of  said  Council  to 
acquaint  themselves  with  the  views,  wishes,  feelings  and  char- 
acter of  all  probationers;  to  interest  themselves  in  their  im- 
provement and  general  welfare;  to  render  their  probationship 
as  useful  and  satisfactory  as  possible ;  to  suggest  and  facilitate 
seasonable  action  respecting  their  admission  as  members,  dis- 
charge or  continued  probation ;  and,  when  proposed  for  mem- 
bership by  Sponsors  (as  provided  in  Sec.  2,  Art.  1,  of  the 
Constitution),  to  endorse  officially  the  sponsorial  recommenda- 
tion as  approved  or  disapproved. 

25 


386  THE   HOPEDALE   COMMUNITY. 

ENACTMENT  VII. 
Respecting  Public  Education  and  Mental  Improvement. 

Whereas  the  Constitution  of  this  Community  declares  it  to 
be  a  fundamental  object  of  our  Association  to  prevent  the 
evils  of  ignorance ;  and  whereas  we  cannot  faithfully  discharge 
the  obligation  thus  assumed  without  making  adequate  provi- 
sion, at  the  common  expense,  for  educating  the  young  and 
facilitating  the  mental  improvement  of  all  classes  of  our  resi- 
dent population,  therefore  it  is  enacted  as  follows,  viz.: 

SECTION  1.  No  child  or  youth  connected  with  this  Commu- 
nity shall  be  permitted  to  grow  up  without  a  decent  education 
in  the  common  branches  of  useful  learning.  Public  Schools, 
Libraries  and  other  requisite  facilities  for  mental  improvement 
shall  be  established  and  maintained  for  the  common  benefit, 
by  means  of  an  Education  Fund  annually  replenished  by  the 
Community  in  such  ways  as  may  from  time  to  time  be  deter- 
mined. 

SEC.  2.  A  Board  of  Education  and  Mental  Improvement 
shall  be  annually  chosen  by  the  Community,  consisting  of  at 
least  three  responsible  members.  This  board  shall  have  gen- 
eral charge  and  supervision  of  all  Schools,  Seminaries,  Libra- 
ries, Cabinets,  Philosophical  Apparatus,  etc.,  maintained  by  the 
Community;  also  of  all  Funds,  Legacies,  Donations,  Lands, 
Buildings,  Rooms,  Fixtures  and  conveniences  devoted  to  these 
purposes.  It  shall  be  their  duty  to  take  such  care  of  all  prop- 
erty, and  to  make  such  expenditures  of  all  moneys  entrusted 
to  their  charge,  as  shall  render  the  educational  and  intellectual 
advantages  of  this  Community  eminently  subservient  of  their 
intended  uses.  They  shall  take  particular  care  that  no  child, 
youth  or  person  neglect,  or  be  prevented  improving,  these 
advantages.  They  shall  keep  reliable  records  and  accounts  of 
their  transactions,  and  make  an  annual  Educational  Report  to 
the  Community. 

ENACTMENT  VIII. 
Respecting  a  Community  Post  Office. 

SECTION  1.  For  the  convenience  of  this  Community  and  all 
persons  interested,  a  Post  Office  is  hereby  established  at  Hope- 
dale  for  the  regular  transmission,  reception  and  delivery  of  all 
mailable  matter. 


BY-LAWS,    RULES   AND   REGULATIONS.  387 

SEC.  2.  The  said  Post  Office  shall  be  located  in  some  cen_ 
tral  part  of  the  Community  village,  and  shall  have  a  regular 
daily  communication  with  the  United  States  Post  Office  at 
Milford,  excepting  on  Sundays.  It  shall  have  a  competent 
Post  Master,  be  kept  in  good  order,  be  accessible  at  all  reason- 
able hours,  and  be  supported  by  postage  on  all  mailable  matter 
(except  newspapers,  periodicals  and  pamphlets)  transmitted 
through  it. 

SEC.  3.  The  Directory  of  this  Community,  for  the  time 
being,  are  hereby  empowered  and  required  to  appoint  the  Post 
Master,  prescribe  his  particular  duties,  and  determine  his  com- 
pensation; to  contract  with  a  mail-carrier  and  fix  the  hours 
for  closing,  transmitting  and  delivering  the  mail ;  to  determine 
the  rates  of  postage  on  all  mailable  matter  not  exempted  from 
charge;  and  to  make  such  regulations  concerning  said  Post 
Office  as  may  be  found  necessary  to  the  public  convenience 
and  welfare. 

SEC.  4.  No  person,  other  than  the  Post  Master  or  his  author- 
ized substitute,  shall  meddle  with  the  mail  on  its  arrival,  until 
it  shall  have  been  opened,  assorted,  taken  account  of  and 
prepared  for  distribution.  Nor  shall  any  person  overhaul  or 
disturb  the  mailable  matter  deposited  in  the  Post  Office,  except 
by  permission  of  the  Post  Master,  or  in  accordance  with  estab- 
lished regulations. 

ENACTMENT  IX. 

Respecting  a   Community  Lyceum. 

SECTION  1.  All  the  inhabitants  of  Hopedale  over  twelve 
years  of  age  are  hereby  constituted  a  Community  Lyceum,  to 
be  called  The  Hopedale  Lyceum. 

SEC.  2.  The  said  inhabitants,  without  exception  or  distinc- 
tion, exercising  equal  rights  and  privileges  in  all  things  per- 
taining to  the  Lyceum,  are  hereby  authorized  to  organize  the 
same  by  the  choice  of  a  President,  Senior  Vice-President, 
Junior  Vice-President,  and  Secretary,  who  together  shall  con- 
stitute an  Executive  Council.  The  President  shall  serve  for 
three  months,  and  be  succeeded  by  the  Senior  Vice-President; 
who  shall  be  succeeded  by  the  Junior  Vice-President  in  regu- 
lar order  of  promotion;  and  the  latter  by  a  newly  elected 
incumbent.  The  Secretary,  as  well  as  the  Junior  Vice-Presi- 
dent, shall  be  elected  once  in  three  months.  These  officers 


388  THE   HOPEDALE   COMMUNITY. 

shall  be  elected  by  ballot,  unless  otherwise  determined  by  the- 
Lyceum  at  the  time  of  election.  In  the  absence  of  the  Presi- 
dent, his  duties  shall  be  discharged  by  the  Senior  Vice-Presi- 
dent,  and  in  his  absence  by  the  Junior  Vice-President. 

SEC.  3.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  President  to  preside 
over  all  meetings  of  the  Lyceum  with  Christian  dignity,  impar- 
tiality and  courtesy,  according  to  such  rules  as  may  have  been 
adopted  and  the  requisites  of  good  order.  He  shall  promptly 
repress  all  disorder,  indecorum  and  obvious  impropriety,  whether 
of  action,  language  or  temper,  and  constantly  endeavor  to  pre- 
serve a  generous  freedom  of  speech  without  its  abuse.  It  shall 
be  the  duty  of  the  Secretary  to  record  faithfully  the  proceed- 
ings of  the  Lyceum,  and  to  render  such  other  service  in  the 
vocation  of  Scribe,  as  may  from  time  to  time  be  required.  It 
shall  be  the  duty  of  the  Executive  Council  to  procure  the 
delivery  of  at  least  one  instructive,  scientific  or  literary  lecture, 
every  month;  to  provide  suitable  questions  for  public  discus- 
sion, from  which  the  Lyceum  may  make  selections;  to  encour- 
age the  writing  of  brief  essays  by  the  members,  in  connection 
with  choice  readings  and  occasional  declamation;  to  promote 
the  formation  of  congenial  classes  for  the  prosecution  of  useful 
studies;  and  in  general  to  execute  its  orders  and  administer 
its  affairs  in  such  a  manner  as  to  render  it  an  efficient  instru. 
mentality  for  mental  improvement. 

SEC.  4.  The  Lyceum  shall  meet  regularly  once  a  month 
from  the  first  of  April  to  the  first  of  October,  and  once  a  week 
during  the  rest  of  the  year.  Regular  meetings  may  be  sus- 
pended, and  special  ones  held,  whenever  the  Lyceum  or  the 
Executive  Council  may  deem  the  same  expedient.  Twelve 
members  shall  constitute  a  quorum  and  a  vote  of  two-thirds 
present  and  acting  be  necessary  to  the  decision  of  every  con- 
tested question. 

SEC.  5.  The  Lyceum  shall  have  ample  power  to  determine 
the  order  of  its  own  proceedings,  and  to  establish  such  rules 
and  regulations  as  maybe  deemed  salutary  —  not  repugnant  to 
the  Constitution  or  By-Laws  of  this  Community. 

SEC.  6.  The  Board  of  Education  and  Mental  Improvement, 
are  hereby  charged  with  the  general  supervision  of  this  Lyceum  ; 
to  see  that  it  steadily  pursues  its  declared  objects ;  that  it  per- 
forms its  legitimate  functions;  that  it  maintains  a  wholesome 
internal  discipline;  that  its  various  exercises  are  so  conducted 


BY-LAWS,    RULES   AND   REGULATIONS.  389 

as  to  promote  the  real  progress  of  the  members  in  useful 
knowledge ;  and  that  it  fulfils  the  just  expectations  with  which 
it  has  been  instituted.  They  are  fully  empowered  to  afford  it 
such  accommodations  and  facilities  as  may  be  at  their  com- 
mand, and  for  its  benefit  to  make  such  expenditures  of  educa- 
tional funds,  not  otherwise  appropriated,  as  they  may  deem 
necessary  to  its  success.  And  they  shall  include  in  their  Annual 
Report  to  the  Community  a  distinct  statement  of  its  general 
operations  and  condition. 

ENACTMENT  X. 
Respecting  a  Community  Savings  Bank. 

SECTION  1.  The  Treasury  of  this  Community  is  hereby  con- 
stituted a  Savings  Bank,  in  which  all  persons  residing  on  the 
Community  domain  may  deposit  such  parts  of  their  earnings 
and  income  as  they  can  conveniently  save  for  future  use,  sub- 
ject to  the  conditions  and  regulations  hereinafter  prescribed. 

SEC.  2.  On  the  16th  day  of  each  month,  or  on  the  17th 
when  the  16th  shall  fall  on  Sunday,  between  the  hours  of  ten 
and  eleven  o'clock  A.  M.,  the  Treasurer  of  this  Community  shall 
regularly  hold  himself  in  readiness  to  receive  for  the  Commu- 
nity's use  such  sums  of  money,  not  less  than  one  dollar,  and 
excluding  all  fractions  of  a  dollar,  as  may  be  offered  for 
deposit,  and  duly  credit  the  same  in  books  to  be  kept  exclu- 
sively for  this  Savings  Bank.  And  all  depositors  shall  be 
entitled  to  interest  on  their  deposits,  at  the  rate  of  four  per 
cent,  per  annum. 

SEC.  3.  Depositors  may  withdraw  their  deposits  or  any  part 
thereof,  on  the  said  16th  or  17th  day  of  the  month,  between 
the  hours  of  eleven  and  twelve  o'clock  A.  M.,  by  giving  notice 
of  one  week  for  all  sums  over  5  and  not  exceeding  20  dollars, 
of  thirty  days  for  all  sums  over  20  and  not  exceeding  100 
dollars,  of  sixty  days  for  all  sums  over  100  and  not  exceeding 
300  dollars,  of  six  months  for  all  other  sums  not  exceeding 
500  dollars,  and  of  one  year  for  all  higher  sums:  Provided, 
nevertheless,  that  for  the  accommodation  of  persons  desiring  to 
withdraw  their  deposits,  the  Treasurer  may  waive  the  condi- 
tions of  notice,  whenever  the  funds  in  the  Treasury  will  admit 
of  it  without  detriment  to  the  general  welfare. 

SEC.  4.  Depositors  shall  keep  a  suitable  book,  in  which  the 
Treasurer  shall  carefully  note  down  all  sums  deposited  or  with- 


390  THE   HOPEDALE   COMMUNITY. 

drawn.  And  this  book  shall  always  be  exhibited  to  the  Treas- 
urer upon  occasion  of  the  deposit  or  withdrawal  of  moneys, 
that  the  proper  entries  may  be  made. 

SEC.  5.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  Treasurer  to  present 
a  distinct  statement  of  the  condition  of  the  Savings  Bank, 
in  the  Financial  Report  of  the  Directory  annually  made  to 
the  Community. 

ENACTMENT  XL 
Respecting  a  Community  Fire  Insurance  Company. 

SECTION  1.  This  Community  is  hereby  constituted  a  Mutual 
Fire  Insurance  Company,  to  guarantee  against  all  losses  that 
may  accrue  by  fire  to  any  buildings  or  other  specified  property 
on  the  Community  domain,  not  exceeding  three-fourths  of  the 
fairly  appraised  value  thereof. 

SEC.  2.  The  Directory  are  hereby  authorized  and  empowered 
to  open  Insurance  Books,  to  appraise  property  needing  to  be 
insured,  to  determine  the  relative  risk  thereof,  and  to  issue  Cer- 
tificates of  Insurance  on  such  terms  and  conditions  as  are  pre- 
scribed by  the  best  conducted  Mutual  Fire  Insurance  Companies, 
so  far  as  the  same  may  be  applicable  to  the  circumstances  of  this 
Community;  provided  that  the  insurances  made  in  pursuance 
hereof  shall  render  no  public  or  private  property  liable  for 
the  payment  of  losses  by  fire,  other  than  premium  money  and 
what  may  be  covered  by  deposit  notes  given  for  that  purpose. 

SEC.  3.  The  Directory,  after  maturing  their  arrangements 
and  methods  of  proceeding  under  this  Enactment,  shall  pub- 
lish a  suitable  compend  of  the  same.  And  they  shall  regularly 
subjoin  to  their  Annual  Financial  Report  a  concise  statement 
of  Insurance  affairs. 

SEC.  4.  The  following  precautionary  regulations  against  fire 
shall  be  strictly  observed  throughout  the  Community  Domain. 
[  These  regulations  were  ten  in  number,  but  as  they  were 
what  a  wise  and  cautious  prudence  would  suggest  and  can  be 
easily  imagined,  it  is  not  deemed  advisable  to  insert  them.  Ed.] 

ENACTMENT  XII. 
Respecting  an  Industrial  Union.* 

SECTION  1.  In  order  to  promote  the  cheerful  prosecution 
of  public  improvements  and  a  generous  assistance  of  persons 

*  First  called  Industrial  Army. 


BY-LAWS,    RULES   AND   REGULATIONS.  391 

needing  occasional  aid,  all  the  members,  probationers,  and 
dependents  of  this  Community,  capable  of  useful  service,  are 
hereby  constituted  a  co-operative  body  to  be  called  The  Hope- 
dale  Industrial  Union. 

SEC.  2.  This  Industrial  Union  shall  be  organized  in  two 
general  Departments  —  a  Male  and  a  Female  Department. 
Each  Department  shall  have  power  to  determine  and  adjust 
its  own  roll  of  members,  organize  itself  in  such  divisions, 
elect  such  officers  and  establish  such  rules  as  may  from  time 
to  time  be  deemed  promotive  of  its  orderly,  energetic,  harmo- 
nious and  successful  operation.  Also,  to  determine  when, 
where,  and  to  what  extent  its  services  shall  be  rendered. 
Fifteen  members  shall  constitute  a  quorum  for  the  transaction 
of  business,  and  all  questions  shall  be  settled  by  a  two-thirds 
majority  of  the  members  present  and  acting  in  regular 
Department  meeting.  Provided,  nevertheless,  that  nothing 
shall  be  done  by  either  Department  repugnant  to  the  Consti- 
tution or  any  Enactment  of  this  Community,  or  insubordinate ly 
to  the  legitimate  executive  authority  of  its  Directory. 

SEC.  3.  Whenever  the  Male  Department  of  this  Union 
shall  make  requisition  for  the  use  of  any  working  vehicles, 
teams,  implements,  or  alien  employes  of  the  Community,  such 
requisition  shall  be  promptly  complied  with;  provided,  always, 
that  at  least  three  days  notice  shall  be  given  to  the  super- 
intendent or  manager  in  charge  of  such  vehicles,  teams, 
implements,  or  employes;  and  provided,  also,  that  no  serious 
detriment  shall  be  done  to  the  Community  property  by  insist- 
ing on  such  requisition.  And  whenever  the  said  Male 
Department  shall  find  it  necessary  to  furnish  implements  of 
labor  to  members  unable  to  equip  themselves,  or  shall  have 
occasion  to  expend  money  for  the  prosecution  of  their  legiti- 
mate undertakings,  all  such  burdens  shall  be  borne  by  the 
Community,  subject  to  such  limitations  as  the  Directory  may 
at  any  time  deem  it  their  duty  to  interpose. 

SEC.  4.  Each  Department  through  its  proper  official  organs, 
may,  for  warrantable  reasons,  excuse  any  member  temporarily 
from  actual  service,  or  commute  such  service  for  cash  equiva- 
lents in  cases  where  the  same  shall  be  deemed  especially 
convenient. 

SEC.  5.  The  Directory  are  hereby  authorized  and  required 
to  carry  this  enactment  into  full  and  perpetual  effect. 


392  THE   HOPEDALE   COMMUNITY. 

ENACTMENT  XIII. 
Respecting  a  Guaranty  Against  the  Evils  of  Poverty. 

Whereas  this  Community  has  solemnly  pledged  its  general 
guaranty  to  all  its  members  against  the  evils  of  poverty, 
therefore,  in  order  to  a  definite  and  practical  fulfillment  of 
the  same,  in  cases  to  which  it  is  applicable,  it  is  enacted  as 
follows: 

SECTION  1.  An  annual  contribution  shall  be  levied  on  all 
resident  members,  probationers  and  dependents  of  this  Com- 
munity owning  property  to  the  value  of  one  hundred  dollars 
clear  of  debt;  which  contribution  shall  be  equal  to  two  mills, 
at  least,  on  every  dollar  possessed  clear  of  debt,  as  nearly  as 
the  same  can  be  ascertained.  This  contribution  shall  be 
assessed  and  collected  by  the  directory,  on  or  before  the  first 
day  of  April  in  each  year,  and  the  proceeds  shall  be  credited 
by  the  Treasurer  to  the  Relief  Fund,  subject  to  orders  herein- 
after prescribed. 

SEC.  2.  This  Community,  at  the  annual  meeting  every 
year,  shall  choose  a  Relief  Committee,  consisting  of  not  less 
than  four  members,  taken  equally  from  the  two  sexes,  whose 
sacred  duty  it  shall  be  to  make  themselves  acquainted  with 
every  case  in  which  a  member,  probationer  or  dependent  of 
this  Community  may  need  pecuniary  assistance.  It  shall  also 
be  the  duty  of  every  member,  probationer  and  dependent, 
having  knowledge  of  any  such  case,  to  report  the  same  with- 
out delay  to  some  member  of  said  Committee.  And  the  Relief 
Committee,  proceeding  always  with  Christian  kindness  and 
delicacy,  shall  cause  timely  and  proper  assistance  to  be  ren- 
dered to  every  person  needing  relief;  either  by  interesting 
the  Industrial  Union  in  the  case,  or  by  drawing  on  the  Relief 
Fund  for  such  a  sum  of  money  as  the  circumstances,  in  their 
judgment,  demand;  provided,  nevertheless,  that  no  person  or 
family,  possessing  property  clear  of  debt  to  the  value  of  one 
thousand  dollars,  shall  receive  aid  from  such  Fund. 

SEC.  3.  So  much  of  this  Enactment  as  relates  to  the  levy- 
ing of  the  annual  contribution  may  be  suspended  by  vote  of 
the  Community,  for  one  year  at  a  time,  whenever  the  Relief 
Fund  shall  be  deemed  adequate  to  its  design  without  such 
contribution. 


BY-LAWS.   RULES   AND   REGULATIONS.  393 

ENACTMENT   XIV. 
Respecting  the  Community  Cemetery. 

The  Trustees  are  hereby  empowered  and  instructed  to  carry 
into  effect  the  following  specified  measures  relating  to  the 
Hopedale  Cemetery,  viz.: 

1.  To   appraise   the   Burial    Lots   now   laid   off,   and   which 
hereafter   may  be  laid  off,  in  said  Cemetery,  at  some  just  and 
definite  valuation,  not  under  two  dollars  nor  over  five   dollars 
per  lot. 

2.  To  reserve  and  set  apart  suitable  portions  of  ground  for 
the   interment  of    transient   residents  and   strangers  who   may 
have   need   to   be    buried   within   our   Community  Domain. 

3.  To  sell   Burial    Lots,  at   their  appraised  valuation,  with 
the  right  of  perpetual  occupancy  for  burial  purposes  alone,  to 
members  of   the   Community,   and   also   to   such  other  persons 
as   may   be   permitted  by   vote   of   the  Community  to  become 
purchasers;  and  to  give  deeds  or  certificate  titles  of  the  same. 

4.  To  expend   all   funds   arising    from    the    sale    of    Burial 
Lots,  or   otherwise,   in   fencing  and  improving  said  Cemetery; 
also  in  erecting   and  maintaining  a  Receiving  Tomb  for  gen- 
eral convenience. 

5.  To  make   and  publish  such  Regulations  relating  to  said 
Cemetery   as  they   may   deem   necessary   and   the    Community 
approve. 

6.  To  appoint  a  Superintendent  of  said  Cemetery,  with  such 
powers,  and  subject  to  such  instructions,  as  they  may  consider 
judicious. 

7.  To  cause  proper  Records  and  written  evidence  of  all  their 
transactions,  under  this  Enactment,  to  be  made  and  preserved 
for  perpetual  reference. 

ENACTMENT   XV. 
Respecting  Residence  by  Permission,  etc. 

SECTION  1.  The  protracted  residence  of  persons  on  the  Com- 
munity Domain,  who  are  not  sympathetically  interested  in  our 
objects,  principles  and  social  order,  shall  be  steadily  guarded 
against  as  of  demoralizing  tendency.  And  no  person  except- 
ing acknowledged  members,  probationers,  dependents,  visiting 
friends,  medical  patients,  nurses,  scholars  or  tenants  holding 
under  unexpired  contract,  shall  be  employed,  boarded  or  har- 


394  THE   HOPEDALE   COMMUNITY. 

bored  on  the  Community  Domain  for  a  longer  time  than  one 
month,  unless  by  special  vote  of  the  Community ;  which  vote  shall 
in  no  case  extend  permission  of  residence  beyond  the  period 
of  one  year  without  a  renewal. 

SEC.  2.  No  fire-arms,  or  deadly  weapons  of  any  description, 
shall  be  owned,  kept,  or  used,  either  for  offense,  defense  or 
sport,  within  the  territorial  limits  of  this  Community,  except 
by  express  permission  of  the  Council  of  Religion,  Conciliation 
and  Justice;  and  then  only  for  the  purpose  of  killing  very  mis- 
chievous and  dangerous  animals.  And  it  shall  be  the  duty  of 
every  member,  probationer  and  dependent  of  this  Community 
to  remonstrate,  kindly  but  firmly,  with  persons  from  abroad, 
against  gunning  on  the  Community  Domain,  and  especially 
against  the  shooting  of  harmless  birds;  and  also  to  discounte- 
nance utterly  among  our  children  the  use  of  all  warlike,  savage- 
like  or  ruffian-like  toys,  playthings,  sports  and  amusements, 
however  harmless  in  themselves. 

ENACTMENT  XVI. 
Respecting  Certain  Official  Duties. 

SEC.  1.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  President  of  this  Com- 
munity to  see  that  all  its  Enactments  are  duly  respected,  and 
particularly  that  none  of  them  become  inoperative  through  the 
negligence  of  official  servants  on  whom  the  responsibility  of 
their  execution  immediately  devolves.  And  he  shall  be  expected, 
at  the  opening  of  every  Annual  Meeting,  to  lay  before  the  Com 
munity  a  written  Address  or  Statement,  reviewing  the  workings 
of  their  social  polity  during  the  previous  year,  and  suggesting 
such  improvements  as  he  may  judge  necessary. 

SEC.  2.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  Trustees  to  keep  reliable 
Records  of  all  their  principal  transactions,  together  with  such 
minutes  and  files  of  written  documents  as  shall  enable  them 
to  exhibit  at  any  time  the  actual  condition  of  all  the  Community 
lands  and  tenements,  both  public  and  private,  in  respect  to 
Layings  off,  Ownership,  Title,  Incuinbrance  or  Claim.  And 
the  senior  Trustee,  for  the  time  being,  shall  be  considered 
responsible  for  the  proper  keeping  of  such  Records  and  Docu- 
mentary Files. 

SEC.  3.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  Recorder  to  keep,  in  an 
orderly  condition,  a  reliable  Community  Registry,  in  which  each 


BY-LAWS,    RULES   AND   REGULATIONS.  395 

member's  name,  admission,  death,  resignation  or  discharge,  may 
be  duly  entered,  according  to  date,  and  forever  remain  on  record. 
Also  to  keep  in  like  condition  another  Registry  in  which  the 
names,  reception  and  discharge  of  all  probationers  and  depend- 
ents may  distinctly  appear  on  record.  Also  to  keep  a  Catalogue, 
exhibiting  the  names  of  all  persons  permitted  to  reside  on  our 
Domain  by  special  vote  of  the  Community,  and  the  cessation 
of  their  residence  under  such  vote. 

SEC.  4.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  Directory,  Council  of 
Religion,  Board  of  Education,  and  every  annually  elected  Com- 
mittee of  this  Community,  to  keep  full  and  reliable  Records  of 
their  official  transactions,  and  to  preserve  carefully  on  File  all 
written  documents  and  papers  which  may  be  of  evidential  or 
historical  use. 

SEC.  5.  It  shall  be  the  special  duty  of  the  Recorder  to  pub- 
lish in  The  Practical  Christian  all  new  Enactments  of  this 
Community  as  soon  as  may  be  conveniently  done  after  their 
passage.  Also,  with  the  advice  of  the  President  to  publish 
such  of  the  Proceedings  of  all  regular  Community  meetings 
as  shall  appear  proper  for  publication  and  likely  to  keep  up  a 
salutary  interest  among  our  friends  abroad. 

SEC.  6.  It  shall  be  the  imperative  duty  of  the  Recorder  to 
watch  over  the  Community  Archives  with  the  most  scrupu- 
lous vigilance;  to  record  all  transactions  with  promptitude^ 
and  to  preserve  all  Books,  Registers,  Catalogues,  Documents 
and  Files  of  papers  with  perpetual  fidelity.  And  no  officer,, 
member,  probationer  or  other  person,  shall  carry  out  of  the 
Recorder's  immediate  custody,  for  examination  or  use  else" 
where,  any  original  Record,  Minute  or  Paper  whatsoever,  with- 
out first  entering  the  fact,  with  name  and  date,  briefly,  in  a 
Minute  Book  to  be  kept  in  the  office  exclusively  for  that 
purpose. 

SEC.  7.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  Treasurer  to  keep  the 
Directory  duly  informed  of  all  moneys  on  hand  in  the  Treas- 
ury, and  of  all  moneys  required  to  meet  demands  or  appro- 
priations to  be  paid  out  of  the  same ;  also,  to  make  up  the 
Annual  Financial  Report  in  season  for  the  Directory's  exami- 
nation. 

GENERAL  ADOPTION  AND  APPROVAL. 

The  foregoing  Revised  Constitution  and  Enactments  having 
been  severally  read,  carefully  considered  and  passed  upon,  are 


THE   HOPEDALE   COMMUNITY. 

hereby  collectively  adopted,  approved  and  ordered  to  be  pub- 
lished. And  all  Enactments,  sections,  sentences,  clauses  and 
particular  votes  of  this  Community,  on  record,  which  are  in 
any  wise  repugnant  to  this  Revision,  or  superseded  by  it,  are 
hereby  repealed. 

Done  at  Hopedale,  this  thirty-first  day  of  August,  A.  D.,  one 
thousand  eight  hundred  and  fifty-three. 

E.  D.  DRAPER,  President. 
MARY  A.  WALDEN,  Secretary. 


APPENDIX    B. 


CONSTITUTION 

OF 

THE    PRACTICAL    CHRISTIAN    REPUBLIC. 

ANEW   Order  of  Human  Society  is  hereby  founded,  to  be 
called  THE  PRACTICAL  CHRISTIAN  REPUBLIC.     It  shall  be 
constituted,   organized   and   governed   hi   accordance   with   the 
following  fundamental  articles,  to  wit: 

ARTICLE  I.     Objects. 

The   cardinal   objects   of  this   Republic  are  and  shall  be  the 
following,  viz.: 

1.  To    institute    and    consolidate    a    true    order   of   human 
society,  which  shall  harmonize  all   individual   interests   in   the 
common   good   and  be   governed  by  Divine    Principles    as  its 
Supreme  Law. 

2.  To   establish  local   Communities   of   various   grades   and 
peculiarities,  all  acknowledging  the  sovereignty  of  Divine  Prin- 
ciples and  so  constituted  as  to  promote  the   highest  happiness 
of  their  respective  associates. 

3.  To   confederate   all   such  local   Communities  wheresoever 
existing  throughout  the  earth  by  an   ascending   series   of  com- 
binations in  one  common  Social  Republic. 

4.  To    insure    to  every   orderly   citizen   of  this   Republic   a 
comfortable  home,  suitable  employment,  adequate   subsistence,, 
congenial   associates,   a    good   education,   proper    stimulants   to 
personal   righteousness,   sympathetic   aid    in    distress,   and   due 
protection  in  the  exercise  of  all  natural  rights. 

5.  To  give  mankind  a  practical  illustration  of   civil  govern- 
ment maintained   in   just   subordination  to  Divine  Principles^ 
which   shall  be   powerful  without  tyranny,  benignant  without 


398  THE   HOPEDALE   COMMUNITY. 

weakness,  dignified  without  ostentation,  independent  without 
defiance,  invincible  without  resorting  to  injurious  force,  and 
pre-eminently  useful  without  being  burdensome. 

6.  To   institute    and   sustain   every   suitable    instrumentality 
for   removing  the  causes  of  human  misery  and  promoting  the 
conversion  of  the  world  to  true  righteousness. 

7.  To  multipy,  economize,  distribute  and  apply  beneficently, 
wisely  and  successfully,  all  the   means   necessary  to   harmonize 
the  human  race  with  each  other,  with  the  heavenly  world  and 
with  the  universal  Father;   that  in    one    grand  communion  of 
angels  and  men  the  will  of  God  may  be  done  "  on  earth  as  it 
is  in  heaven." 

ARTICLE  II.     Principles. 

We  proclaim  the  absolute  sovereignty  of  Divine  Principles 
over  all  human  beings,  combinations,  governments,  institutions, 
laws,  customs,  habits,  practices,  actions,  opinions,  intentions 
and  affections.  We  recognize  in  the  religion  of  Jesus  Christ 
as  he  taught  and  exemplified  it  a  complete  annunciation  and 
attestation  of  essential  Divine  Principles. 

We  accept  and  acknowledge  the  following  as  Divine  Princi- 
ples of  Theological  Truth,  viz.: 

1.  The  existence  of  one  all-perfect,  infinite  God. 

2.  The  mediatorial  manifestation  of  God  through  Christ. 

3.  Divine  revelations  and  inspirations  given  to  mankind. 

4.  The  immortal  existence  of  human  and  angelic  spirits. 

5.  The  moral  agency  and  religious  obligation  of  mankind. 

6.  The  certainty  of  a  perfect  divine  retribution. 

7.  The  necessity  of  man's  spiritual  regeneration. 

8.  The  final  universal  triumph  of  good  over  evil. 

We  accept  and  acknowledge  the  following  as  Divine  Princi- 
ples of  Personal  Righteousness;  viz.: 

1.  Reverence  for  the  Divine  and  spiritual. 

2.  Self-denial  for  righteousness'  sake. 

3.  Justice  to  all  beings. 

4.  Truth  in  all  manifestations  of  mind. 

5.  Love  in  all  spiritual  relations. 

6.  Purity  in  all  things. 

7.  Patience  in  all  right  aims  and  pursuits. 

8.  Unceasing  progress  toward  perfection. 


aNiVERsi: 

V 

CONSTITUTION   OF    THE   P.   C.   REPUBLIC.  399 

We  accept  and  acknowledge  the  following  as  Divine  Princi- 
ples of  Social  Order;  viz.: 

1.  The  supreme  Fatherhood  of  God. 

2.  The  universal  Brotherhood  of  man. 

3.  The  declared  perfect  love  of  God  to  man. 

4.  The  required  perfect  love  of  man  to  God. 

5.  The  required  perfect  love  of  man  to  man. 

6.  The  required  just  reproof  and  disfellowship  of  evil-doers. 

7.  The  required  non-resistance  of  evil  doers  with  evil. 

8.  The  designed  unity  of  the  righteous. 

We  hold  ourselves  imperatively  bound  by  the  sovereignty  of 
these  acknowledged  Divine  Principles,  never,  under  any  pretext 
whatsoever,  to  kill,  injure,  envy  or  hate  any  human  being,  even 
our  worst  enemy. 

Never  to  sanction  chattel  slavery  or  any  obvious  oppression 
of  man  by  man. 

Never  to  countenance  war  or  capital  punishment,  or  the 
infliction  of  injurious  penalties,  or  the  resistance  of  evil  with 
evil  in  any  form. 

Never  to  violate  the  dictates  of  chastity  by  adultery,  polyg- 
amy, concubinage,  fornication,  self-pollution,  lasciviousness,  ama- 
tive abuse,  impure  language,  or  cherished  lust. 

Never  to  manufacture,  buy,  sell,  deal  out  or  use  any  intoxi- 
cating liquor,  a*  a  beverage. 

Never  to  take  or  administer  an  oath. 

Never  to  participate  in  a  sword-sustained  human  government, 
either  as  voters,  office  holders  or  subordinate  assistants,  in  any 
case  prescriptively  involving  the  infliction  of  death  or  any  absolute 
injury  whatsoever  by  man  on  man;  nor  to  invoke  governmental 
interposition  in  any  such  case,  even  for  the  accomplishment  of 
good  objects. 

Never  to  indulge  self-will,  bigotry,  love  of  pre-eminence,  covet- 
ousness,  deceit,  profanity,  idleness  or  an  unruly  tongue. 

Never  to  participate  in  lotteries,  gambling,  betting  or  perni- 
cious amusements. 

Never  to  resent  reproof  -  or  justify  ourselves  in  a  known 
wrong. 

Never  to  aid,  abet  or  approve  others  in  anything  sinful;  but, 
through  divine  assistance,  always  to  recommend  and  promote 
-with  our  entire  influence  the  holiness  and  happiness  of  all 
mankind. 


400  THE   HOPEDALE   COMMUNITY. 

ARTICLE  III.     Rights. 

No  member  of  this  Republic,  nor  Association  of  its  members,, 
can  have  a  right  to  violate  any  one  of  its  acknowledged  Divine 
Principles;  but  all  the  members,  however  peculiarized  by  sex, 
age,  color,  native  country,  rank,  calling,  wealth  or  station,  have 
indefeasible  rights  as  human  beings  to  do,  to  be  and  to  enjoy 
whatsoever  they  are  personally  capable  of  that  is  not  in  viola- 
tion of  those  Principles.  Within  these  just  limits  no  person 
shall  be  restricted  or  interfered  with  by  this  Republic,  nor  by 
any  constituent  Association  thereof,  in  the  exercise  of  the  fol- 
lowing declared  rights;  viz.: 

1.  The  right  to  worship  God,  with  or  without  external  cere- 
monies and  devotional  observances,  according  to  the  dictates  of 
his  or  her  own  conscience. 

2.  The  right  to  exercise  reason,  investigate  questions,  form 
opinions  and  declare  convictions,  by  speech,  by  pen  and  by  the 
press,  on  all  subjects  within  the  range  of  human  thought. 

3.  The  right  to  hold  any  official  station  to  which  he  or  she 
may  be  elected,  to  pursue  any  avocation   or  follow  any  course 
in  life,  according  to  genius,  attraction  and  taste. 

4.  The  right  to  be  stewards,  under  God,  of  his  or  her  own 
talents,  property,  skill  and  personal  endowments. 

5.  The  right  to  form  and  enjoy  particular  friendships  with 
congenial  minds. 

6.  The   right   to   contract   marriage   and  sustain  the  sacred 
relationships  of  family  life. 

7.  The  right  to  unite  with,  and  also  to  withdraw  from,  any 
Community  or  Association,  on  reciprocal  terms,  at  discretion. 

8.  In  fine,  the  right  to  seek  happiness  in  all   rightful  ways 
and  by  all  innocent  means. 

ARTICLE  IV.     Membership. 

SECTION  1.  Membership  in  this  Republic  shall  exist  in  seven 
Circles;  viz.:  the  Adoptive,  the  Unitive,  the  Preceptive,  the 
Communitive,  the  Expansive,  the  Charitive,  and  the  Parentive. 
The  Adoptive  Circle  shall  include 'all  members  living  in  isola- 
tion, or  not  yet  admitted  into  the  membership  of  an  integral 
Community.  The  Unitive  Circle  shall  include  all  members  of 
Rural  and  Joint-Stock  Communities.  The  Preceptive  Circle 
shall  include  all  members  specially  and  perseveringly  devoted  to 
Teaching;  whether  it  be  teaching  religion,  morality  or  any 


CONSTITUTION   OF   THE   P.   C.   REPUBLIC.  401 

branch  of  useful  knowledge,  and  whether  their  teaching  be 
done  with  the  living  voice,  or  with  the  pen,  or  through  the 
press,  or  in  educative  institutions.  All  such  teachers,  after 
having  proved  themselves  competent,  devoted  and  acceptable 
in  the  Communities  to  which  they  belong,  shall  be  considered 
in  this  Circle.  The  Communitive  Circle  shall  include  all  mem- 
bers of  integral  Common-Stock  Communities  or  Families,  whose 
internal  economy  excludes  individual  profits  on  capital,  wages 
for  labor  and  separate  interests.  The  Expansive  Circle  shall 
include  all  members  who  are  especially  devoted  to  the  exten- 
sion of  this  Republic,  by  founding  and  strengthening  new 
integral  Communities;  who  have  associated  in  companies 
for  that  express  purpose  and  are  employing  the  principal  por- 
tion of  their  time,  talents  or  property  in  that  work.  The 
Charitive  Circle  shall  include  all  members  who  are  especially 
devoted  to  the  reformation,  elevation,  improvement  and  welfare 
of  the  world's  suffering  classes,  by  furnishing  them  homes, 
employment,  instruction  and  all  the  requisite  helps  to  a  better 
condition;  who  are  associated  in  companies  for  that  express 
purpose  and  are  employing  the  principal  portion  of  their  time, 
talents  or  property  in  such  works.  The  Parentive  Circle  shall 
include  all  members  who,  on  account  of  their  mature  age, 
faithful  services,  great  experience,  sound  judgment  or  unques- 
tionable reliability,  are  competent  to  advise,  arbitrate  and 
recommend  measures  in  cases  of  great  importance.  They  shall 
be  declared  worthy  of  a  place  in  the  Parentive  Circle  by  their 
respective  integral  Communities,  in  a  regular  meeting  notified 
for  that  purpose,  by  a  unanimous  vote. 

SEC.  2.  The  members  of  no  Circle  shall  ever  assume  to  exer- 
cise any  other  than  purely  moral  or  advisory  power,  nor  claim 
any  exclusive  prerogatives,  privileges,  honors  or  distinctions 
whatsoever  over  members  of  other  Circles ;  but  shall  be  entitled 
to  respect  and  influence  in  consideration  of  intrinsic  worth 
alone.  Nor  shall  there  be  any  permanent  general  organization 
of  these  Circles  as  such.  But  the  members  of  either  may  unite 
in  co-operative  associations,  companies  and  partnerships,  for 
the  more  efficient  prosecution  of  their  peculiar  objects;  and 
may  also  hold  public  meetings,  conferences  and  conventions, 
at  pleasure,  for  the  promotion  of  these  objects. 

SEC.  3.  Any  person  may  be  admitted  a  member  of  this 
Republic  by  any  constituent  Community  or  other  authorized 

26 


402  THE   HOPEDALE   COMMUNITY. 

body  thereof  in  regular  meeting  assembled.  And  any  twelve 
or  more  persons  adopting  this  Constitution  from  conviction 
may  render  themselves  members  of  the  Republic  by  uniting 
to  form  a  constituent  and  confederate  Community  thereof. 

SEC.  4.  Any  person  may  resign  or  withdraw  membership  at 
discretion,  or  may  recede  from  either  of  the  other  Circles  to 
the  Adoptive  Circle,  by  giving  written  notice  to  the  body  or 
principal  persons  concerned.  Any  person  uniting  with  a  society 
of  any  description  radically  opposed  in  principle,  practice  or 
spirit  to  this  Republic,  shall  be  deemed  to  have  relinquished 
membership;  likewise  any  person  who  shall  have  ceased  to 
manifest  any  interest  in  its  affairs  for  the  space  of  three  years. 

SEC.  5.  Any  constituent  Community  or  other  organized  body 
of  this  Republic  competent  to  admit  members  shall  have  power 
to  dismiss  or  discharge  them  for  justifiable  reasons.  And  no 
person  shall  be  retained  a  member  after  persistently  violating 
or  setting  at  naught  any  one  of  the  sovereign  Divine  Principles 
declared  in  Art.  II  of  this  Constitution. 

ARTICLE  V.     Organization. 

SECTION  1.  The  constituent  and  confederate  bodies  of  this 
Social  Republic  shall  be  the  following;  viz.:  Parochial  Com- 
munities, Integral  Communities,  Communal  Municipalities,  Com- 
munal States  and  Communal  Nations. 

SEC.  2.  Parochial  Communities  shall  consist  each  of  twelve 
or  more  members  belonging  chiefly  to  the  Adoptive  Circle, 
residing  promiscuously  in  a  general  neighborhood,  associated 
for  religious  and  moral  improvement  and  to  secure  such  other 
social  advantages  as  may  be  found  practicable. 

SEC.  3.  Integral  Communities  shall  consist  each  of  twelve 
or  more  members  inhabiting  an  integral  territorial  Domain,  so 
held  in  possession  and  guaranteed  that  no  part  thereof  can 
be  owned  in  fee  by  any  person  not  a  member  of  this  Republic. 

There  shall  be  three  different  kinds  of  Integral  Communi- 
ties; viz.:  Rural,  Joint-Stock  and  Common-Stock  Communities. 
Rural  Communities  shall  hold  and  manage  the  major  portion 
of  their  respective  Domains  in  separate  Homesteads,  adapted 
to  the  wants  of  families  and  to  small  associations  under  a  sys- 
tem of  individual  proprietorship.  Joint-Stock  Communities 
shall  hold  and  manage  the  major  part  of  their  respective 
Domains  in  Joint-Stock  proprietorship,  with  various  unitary 


CONSTITUTION   OF   THE  P.   C.   REPUBLIC.  403 

economies,  under  a  system  of  associative  co-operation;  laying 
off  the  minor  portion  into  Village  House  Lots,  to  be  sold  to 
individual  members  under  necessary  restrictions.  Common- 
Stock  Communities  shall  hold  and  manage  their  respective 
Domains  and  property  in  Common-Stock,  without  paying  indi- 
vidual members  profits  on  capital  or  stipulated  wages  for  labor. 
Common-Stock  Families  may  also  be  formed  within  Rural  and 
Joint-Stock  Communities  when  deemed  desirable  and  practica- 
ble ;  in  which  case  such  Families  shall  not  be  considered  Integral 
Communities,  but  as  constituent  portions  of  the  Communities 
on  whose  Domain  they  respectively  reside. 

SEC.  4.  Communal  Municipalities  shall  consist  each  of  two 
or  more  Communities,  whether  Parochial  or  Integral,  combined, 
as  in  a  town  or  city,  for  municipal  purposes  necessary  to  their 
common  welfare,  and  impracticable  or  extremely  difficult  of 
accomplishment  without  such  a  union. 

SEC.  5.  Communal  States  shall  consist  each  of  two  or  more 
Communal  Municipalities  combined  for  general  purposes  neces- 
sary to  their  common  welfare,  and  impracticable  or  extremely 
difficult  of  accomplishment  without  such  a  union. 

SEC.  6.  Communal  Nations  shall  consist  each  of  two  or 
more  Communal  States  combined  for  national  purposes  neces- 
sary to  their  comnon  welfare,  and  impracticable  or  extremely 
difficult  of  accomplishment  without  such  a  union. 

SEC.  7.  When  there  shall  be  two  or  more  Communal  Nations, 
they  shall  be  represented  equitably,  according  to  population, 
in  a  Supreme  Unitary  Council  by  Senators  elected  for  the 
term  of years. 

SEC.  8.  The  several  constituent  bodies  of  this  Republic 
herein  before  named  shall  be  organized  under  written  Consti- 
tutions, Compacts  or  Fundamental  Laws  not  inconsistent  with 
this  General  Constitution,  and  shall  exercise  the  governmental 
prerogatives  and  responsibilities  defined  in  the  next  ensuing 
Article. 

ARTICLE  VI.     Government. 

SECTION  1.  Self-government  in  the  Individual,  the  Family 
and  the  primary  congenial  Association,  under  the  immediate 
sovereignty  of  Divine  Principles,  being  the  basis  of  moral  and 
social  order  in  this  Republic,  shall  be  constantly  cherished  as 
indispensable  to  its  prosperity.  Therefore  all  governmental 
powers  vested  in  the  confederate  bodies  of  this  Republic  shall 


404  THE  HOPED  ALE   COMMUNITY. 

be  such  as  are  obviously  beneficent  and  such  as  cannot  be 
conveniently  exercised  by  the  primary  Communities  or  their 
component  Circles.  And  such  confederate  bodies  shall  never 
assume  to  exercise  governmental  powers  not  clearly  delegated 
to  them  by  their  constituents. 

SEC.  2.  Each  Parochial  and  each  Integral  Community  shall 
exert  its  utmost  ability  to  insure  all  its  members  and  depend- 
ents a  full  realization  of  the  guaranties  specified  in  Object  4> 
Article  1,  of  this  Constitution ;  viz. :  a  comfortable  home,  suita- 
ble employment,  adequate  subsistence,  congenial  associates,  a 
good  education,  proper  stimulants  to  personal  righteousness, 
sympathetic  aid  in  distress  and  due  protection  in  the  exercise 
of  all  natural  rights.  And  whereinsoever  it  shall  find  itself 
unable  to  realize  the  said  guaranties,  it  may  unite  with  other 
Communities  to  insure  them,  by  such  means  as  shall  be 
mutually  agreed  on  for  that  purpose.  Each  Community  shall 
have  the  right  to  frame,  adopt  and  alter  its  own  Constitution 
and  laws ;  to  elect  its  own  officers,  teachers  and  representatives ; 
and  to  manage  its  own  domestic  affairs  of  every  description, 
without  interference  from  any  other  constituent  body  or  author- 
ity of  this  Republic;  excepting  always  the  prerogatives  which 
it  shall  have  specifically  delegated  or  referred  to  others. 

SEC.  3.  Each  Communal  Municipality  shall  be  formed  by  a 
Convention  of  delegates  chosen  for  that  purpose  by  the  Com- 
munities proposing  to  unite  in  such  Municipality.  The  dele- 
gates shall  be  chosen  equitably  on  the  basis  of  population. 
These  delegates  shall  frame  a  Constitution  or  Fundamental 
Compact,  clearly  defining  the  governmental  powers  to  be  exer- 
cised by  the  Municipal  authorities,  which,  having  been  sub- 
mitted to  the  voting  members  of  the  Communities  concerned 
and  adopted,  the  Municipality  shall  be  considered  established 
and  go  into  organized  operation  accordingly.  But  either  of  the 
Communities  composing  such  Municipality  shall  have  the  right 
to  secede  therefrom,  after  giving  one  year's  notice,  paying  all 
assessments  due  the  corporation  at  the  time  of  such  notice, 
and  relinquishing  its  share  of  public  property  therein.  Or  the 
union  of  two  or  more  Communities  constituting  a  Municipality 
may  be  dissolved  at  any  time  by  mutual  agreement  of  the 
federative  parties. 

SEC.  4.  Each  Communal  State  shall  be  formed  by  a  Conven- 
tion of  delegates  from  the  Municipalities  proposing  to  unite  in 


CONSTITUTION   OF   THE   P.   C.   REPUBLIC.  405 

the  same,  by  a  process  substantially  similar  to  the  one  pre- 
scribed in  the  preceding  Section,  but  without  the  right  of 
secession  therein  reserved.  And  each  Communal  Nation  shall 
be  formed  by  the  States  proposing  to  unite  therein  in  general 
accordance  with  the  same  process. 

SEC.  5.  The  duties  and  powers  of  the  Supreme  Unitary 
Council  shall  be  denned  in  a  Fundamental  Compact,  to  be 
framed  by  delegates  from  all  the  Communal  Nations  then 
existing  and  adopted  by  at  least  two-thirds  of  the  citizen  mem- 
bers of  the  Republic  present  and  acting  in  their  respective 
primary  Communities,  at  meetings  duly  notified  for  that  pur- 
pose. And  all  questions  throughout  this  Republic,  excepting 
the  election  of  officers,  shall  be  determined  by  a  two-thirds 
vote. 

SEC.  6.  No  official  servant  of  any  grade  in  this  Republic 
shall  ever  assume  to  distinguish  him  or  herself  by  external 
display  of  dress,  equipage  or  other  artificial  appliances  above 
the  common  members;  nor  shall  receive  compensation  for 
official  services  beyond  the  average  paid  to  the  first  class  of 
operatives  at  large,  with  a  reasonable  allowance  for  incidental 
expenses;  but  every  official  servant  shall  be  considered  bound 
to  exemplify  the  humility,  modesty  and  benevolence  inculcated 
in  the  Christian  precept.  "Whosoever  will  be  chief  among 
you,  let  him  be  the  servant  of  all."  Nor  shall  it  be  allowable 
for  any  of  the  constitutional  bodies  of  this  Republic  to  burden 
the  people  with  governmental  expenses  for  mere  worldly  show 
or  for  any  other  than  purposes  of  unquestionable  public  utility. 

ARTICLE  VII.     Religion. 

SECTION  1.  Acknowledging  the  Christian  religion  as  one  of 
fundamental  Divine  Principles,  to  be  practically  carried  out  in 
all  human  conduct,  this  Republic  insists  only  on  the  essentials 
of  faith  and  practice  affirmed  in  Article  II  of  this  Constitution. 
Therefore,  no  uniform  Religious  or  Ecclesiastical  system  of 
externals  shall  be  established;  nor  shall  any  rituals,  forms, 
ceremonies  or  observances  whatsoever  be  either  instituted  or 
interdicted;  but  each  Community  shall  determine  for  itself, 
with  due  regard  for  the  conscientious  scruples  of  its  own  mem- 
bers, all  matters  of  this  nature. 

SEC.  2.  Believing  that  the  Holy  Christ-Spirit  will  raise  up 
competent  Religious  and  Moral  Teachers,  and  commend  them, 


406  THE   HOPEDALE   COMMUNITY. 

by  substantial  demonstration  of  their  fitness,  to  the  confidence 
of  those  to  whom  they  minister,  this  Republic  shall  not  assume 
to  commission,  authorize  or  forbid  any  person  to  preach  or  to 
teach  Religion ;  nor  shall  any  constituent  body  thereof  assume 
to  do  so.  But  each  Community  may  invite  any  person  deemed 
worthy  of  confidence  to  be  their  religious  teacher,  on  terms 
reciprocally  satisfactory  to  the  parties  concerned. 

SEC.  3.  It  shall  be  the  privilege  and  duty  of  members  of 
this  Republic  to  hold  general  meetings,  at  least  once  in  three 
months,  for  religious  improvement  and  the  promulgation  of 
their  acknowledged  divine  principles.  In  order  to  this,  Quar- 
terly Conferences  shall  be  established  in  every  general  region 
of  country  inhabited  by  any  considerable  number  of  members. 
Any  twenty-five  or  more  members  wheresoever  resident  shall  be 
competent  to  establish  a  Quarterly  Conference  whenever  they 
may  deem  the  same  necessary  to  their  convenience.  In  so- 
doing  they  shall  adopt  a  written  Constitution  subsidiary  to- 
this  general  Constitution  and  no  wise  incompatible  therewith, 
under  which  they  may  make  such  regulations  as  they  may 
deem  promotive  of  the  objects  they  have  in  view.  All  such 
Conferences  shall  have  power  to  admit  members  into  the  Adop- 
tive Circle  of  this  Republic,  and  also,  for  sufficient  reasons,  to- 
discharge  them.  And  each  Quarterly  Conference  shall  keep 
reliable  records  of  its  proceedings,  with  an  authentic  copy  of 
this  general  Constitution  prefixed. 

ARTICLE  VIII.     Marriage. 

SECTION  1.  Marriage,  being  one  of  the  most  important  and 
sacred  of  human  relationships,  ought  to  be  guarded  against 
caprice  and  abuse  by  the  highest  wisdom  that  is  available. 
Therefore  within  the  membership  of  this  Republic  and  the 
dependencies  thereof,  Marriage  is  specially  commended  to  the 
care  of  the  Preceptive  and  Parentive  Circles.  These  are  hereby 
designated  as  the  confidential  counsellors  of  all  members  and 
dependents  who  may  desire  their  mediation  in  cases  of  matri- 
monial negotiation,  contract  or  controversy;  and  shall  be  held 
pre-eminently  responsible  for  the  prudent  and  faithful  discharge 
of  their  duties.  But  no  person  decidedly  averse  to  their  inter- 
position shall  be  considered  under  obligation  to  solicit  or  accept 
it.  And  it  shall  be  considered  the  perpetual  duty  of  the  Circles 
named  to  enlighten  the  public  mind  relative  to  the  requisites  of 


CONSTITUTION   OF   THE  P.   C.    REPUBLIC.  407 

true  matrimony,  and  to  elevate  the  marriage  institution  within  this 
Republic  to  the  highest  possible  plane  of  purity  and  happiness. 

SEC.  2.  Marriage  shall  always  be  solemnized  in  the  presence 
of  two  or  more  witnesses,  by  the  distinct  acknowledgment  of 
the  parties  before  some  member  of  the  Preceptive  or  Parentive 
Circle  selected  to  preside  on  the  occasion.  And  it  shall  be 
the  imperative  duty  of  the  member  so  presiding  to  see  that 
every  such  marriage  be  recorded  within  ten  days  thereafter 
in  the  Registry  of  the  Community  to  which  one  or  both  of 
the  parties  shall,  at  the  time,  belong. 

SEC.  3.  Divorce  from  the  bonds  of  matrimony  shall  never 
be  allowable  within  the  membership  of  this  Republic  except 
for  adultery  conclusively  proved  against  the  accused  party.  But 
separations  for  other  sufficient  reasons  may  be  sanctioned,  with 
the  distinct  understanding  that  neither  party  shall  be  at  liberty 
to  marry  again  during  the  natural  life-time  of  the  other. 

ARTICLE  IX.    Education. 

SECTION  1.  The  proper  education  of  the  rising  generation 
being  indispensable  to  the  prosperity  and  glory  of  this  Repub- 
lic, it  shall  be  amply  provided  for  as  a  cardinal  want;  and 
no  child  shall  be  allowed  to  grow  up  anywhere  under  the  con- 
trol of  its  membership  without  good  educational  opportunities. 

SEC.  2.  Education  shall  be  as  comprehensive  and  thorough 
as  circumstances  in  each  case  will  allow.  It  shall  aim  in  all 
cases  to  develop  harmoniously  the  physical,  intellectual,  moral 
and  social  faculties  of  the  young:  —  to  give  them,  if  possible, 
a  high-toned  moral  character  based  on  scrupulous  conscien- 
tiousness and  radical  Christian  principles;  a  sound  mind,  well 
stored  with  useful  knowledge  and  capable  of  inquiring,  reason- 
ing and  judging  for  itself;  a  heathful,  vigorous  body,  suitably 
fed,  exercised,  clothed,  lodged  and  recreated;  good  domestic 
habits,  including  personal  cleanliness,  order,  propriety,  agree- 
ableness  and  generous  social  qualities;  industrial  executiveness 
and  skill  in  one  or  more  of  the  avocations  necessary  to  a 
comfortable  subsistence;  and,  withal,  practical  economy  in 
pecuniary  matters.  In  fine,  to  qualifiy  them  for  solid  useful- 
ness and  happiness  in  all  the  rightful  pursuits  and  relations 
of  life. 

SEC.  3.  The  Preceptive  Circle  of  members  shall  be  expected 
to  distinguish  themselves  by  a  zealous,  wise  and  noble  devotion 


408  THE   HOPEDALE   COMMUNITY. 

to  this  great  interest  of  education.  And  every  individual, 
family,  private  association  and  constituent  body  of  this  Repub- 
lic, in  their  respective  spheres,  shall  co-operate,  by  every  reason- 
able effort,  to  render  its  educational  institutions  from  the 
nursery  to  the  university  pre-eminently  excellent. 

ARTICLE  X.     Property. 

SECTION  1.  All  property,  being  primarily  the  Creator's  and 
provided  by  Him  for  the  use  of  mankind  during  their  life  on 
earth,  ought  to  be  acquired,  used  and  disposed  of  in  strict 
accordance  with  the  dictates  of  justice  and  charity.  Therefore, 
the  members  of  this  Republic  shall  consider  themselves  stew- 
ards in  trust,  under  God,  of  all  property  coming  into  their 
possession,  and  as  such  imperatively  bound  not  to  consume  it 
in  the  gratification  of  their  own  inordinate  lusts,  nor  to  hoard 
it  up  as  a  mere  treasure,  nor  to  employ  it  to  the  injury  of 
any  human  being,  nor  withhold  it  from  the  relief  of  distressed 
fellow  creatures;  but  always  to  use  it,  as  not  abusing  it,  for 
strictly  just,  benevolent  and  commendable  purposes. 

SEC.  2.  It  shall  not  be  deemed  compatible  with  justice  for 
the  people  of  this  Republic,  in  their  pecuniary  commerce  with 
each  other,  to  demand,  in  any  case,  as  a  compensation  for  their 
mere  personal  service,  labor  or  attendance,  a  higher  price  per 
cent.,  per  piece,  per  day,  week,  month  or  year  than  the  aver- 
age paid  to  the  first  class  of  operatives  in  the  Community, 
or  general  vicinity  where  the  service  is  rendered.  Nor  shall 
it  be  deemed  compatible  with  justice  for  the  members,  in  such 
commerce,  to  demand,  as  a  price  for  anything  sold  or  exchanged, 
more  than  the  fair  cost  value  thereof,  as  nearly  as  the  same 
can  be  estimated,  reckoning  prime  cost,  labor  or  attention, 
incidental  expenses,  contingent  waste,  depreciation  and  aver- 
age risks  of  sale:  nor  to  demand  for  the  mere  use  of  capital, 
except  as  partners  in  the  risks  of  its  management,  any  clear 
interest  or  profit  whatsoever  exceeding  four  per  cent,  per 
annum. 

SEC.  3.  It  shall  not  be  deemed  compatible  with  the  welfare, 
prosperity  and  honor  of  this  Republic  for  the  people  thereof 
to  owe  debts  outside  of  the  same  exceeding  three-fourths  of 
their  available  property  rated  at  moderate  valuation  by  disin- 
terested persons;  nor  to  give  or  receive  long  credits,  except 
on  real  estate  security;  nor  to  manufacture,  fabricate  or  sell 


CONSTITUTION   OF   THE   P.   C.   REPUBLIC.  409 

sham  and  unreliable  productions ;  nor  to  make  business  engage- 
ments, or  hold  out  expectations,  which  are  of  doubtful  ful- 
fillment. 

SEC.  4.  Whenever  the  population  and  resources  of  this  Repub- 
lic shall  warrant  the  formation  of  the  first  Communal  Nation, 
and  the  government  thereof  shall  have  been  organized,  a  uni- 
form system  of  Mutual  Banking  shall  be  established,  based 
mainly  on  real  estate  securities,  which  shall  afford  loans  at 
the  mere  cost  of  operations.  Also,  a  uniform  system  of  Mutual 
Insurance,  which  shall  reduce  all  kinds  of  insurance  to  the 
lowest  terms.  Also,  a  uniform  system  of  reciprocal  Commer- 
cial Exchange,  which  shall  preclude  all  needless  intervention 
between  producers  and  consumers,  all  extra  risks  of  property, 
all  extortionate  speculation,  all  inequitable  profits  on  exchanges, 
and  all  demoralizing  expedients  of  trade.  Also,  Regulations 
providing  for  the  just  encouragement  of  useful  industry  and 
the  practical  equalization  of  all  social  advantages,  so  far  as 
the  same  can  be  done  without  infringing  on  individual  rights. 
And  all  the  members  shall  be  considered  under  sacred  moral 
obligations  to  co-operate  adhesively  and  persistently  in  every 
righteous  measure  employed  for  the  accomplishment  of  these 
objects. 

ARTICLE  XL    Policy. 

It  shall  be  the  fundamental,  uniform  and  established  Policy 
of  this  Republic: 

1.  To   govern,   succor   and   protect   its   own   people   to  the 
utmost  of  its  ability,  in  all  matters  and  cases  whatsoever   not 
involving  anti-Christian  conflict  with  the   sword-sustained  gov- 
ernments of  the  world  under  which  its  members  live. 

2.  To  avoid  all  unnecessary  conflicts  whatsoever  with  these 
governments,  by  conforming  to  all  their  laws  and  requirements 
which  are  not   repugnant  to  the   Sovereignty  of    Divine   Prin- 
ciples. 

3.  To  abstain  from  all  participation  in  the  working  of  their 
political  machinery  and  to   be   connected   as   little   as   possible 
with  their  systems  of  governmental  operation. 

4.  To  protest,  remonstrate  and  testify  conscientiously  against 
their  sins  on  moral  grounds  alone;   but  never  to  plot  schemes 
of   revolutionary  agitation,   intrigue   or  violence   against  them, 
nor  be  implicated  in  contenancing  the  least  resistance  to  their 
authority  by  injurious  force. 


410  THE   HOPED  ALE   COMMUNITY. 

5.  If  compelled  in  any  case  by  Divine  Principles  to  disobey 
their  requirements,  or  passively  to  withstand  their  unrighteous 
exactions  and  thus  incur  their  penal  vengeance,  to  act   openly 
and  suffer  with  true  moral  heroism. 

6.  Never  to  ask  their   protection,  even  in  favor   of  injured 
innocence  or  threatened  rights,  when  it  can  be  interposed  only 
by  means  which  are  condemned  by  Divine  Principles. 

7.  To  live  in  peace,  so  far  as  can  innocently  be  done,  with 
all    mankind    outside    of    this    Republic,    whether    individuals, 
associations,    corporations,     sects,    classes,     parties,    states     or 
nations ;   also  to  accredit  and  encourage  whatever  is  truly  good 
in  all;  yet  to  fellowship  iniquity  in  none,  be  enslaved  by  none, 
be  amalgamated  with  none,  be  morally  responsible  for  none ;  but 
ever   be    distinctly,   unequivocally   and    uncompromisingly    The 
Practical  Christian  Republic  until  the  complete  regeneration    of 
the  world. 

ARTICLE  XII.     Amendments. 

Whenever  one-fourth  of  all  the  members  of  this  Republic 
shall  subscribe  and  publish  a  written  proposition  to  alter,  amend 
or  revise  this  Constitution,  such  proposition  of  whatsoever 
nature  shall  be  submitted  to  each  Community  for  considera- 
tion. Returns  shall  then  be  made  of  all  the  votes  cast  in 
every  Community  to  the  highest  organized  body  of  the  Repub- 
lic for  the  time  being.  And  the  concurrence  of  two-thirds 
of  all  the  votes  shall  determine  the  question  or  questions  at 
issue.  If  the  proposition  shall  have  been  a  specific  alteration 
or  amendment  of  the  Constitution,  it  shall  thenceforth  be 
established  as  such.  If  a  Convention  shall  have  been  proposed 
to  revise  the  Constitution,  a  Convention  shall  be  summoned 
and  held  accordingly.  But  no  alteration,  amendment  or  revi- 
sion of  this  Constitution  shall  take  effect  until  sanctioned  by 
two-thirds  of  all  the  members  present  and  acting  thereon  in 
their  respective  Communities,  at  regular  meetings  duly  notified 
for  that  purpose. 


INDEX. 


Accessions  to  Hopedale  frequent,  74. 
Accommodations  at  first  limited,  73. 
Achievements  of  fourteen  years,  343. 
Activity  the  first  summer,  86. 
Affairs  during  1846, 155. 
Alien  residents,  action  concerning, 

200. 

Amusements,  180. 
Andrews,   Stephen  Pearl   and   his 

theories,  241. 

Annoyances  and  irritations,  161. 
Annual   meetings,  59,  103,  126,  137, 

150, 158,  176,  189,  201,  210,  224,  243, 

249,  269,  283. 
Antagonism     to     existing     Social 

order,  10. 

Appendix  A,  368;  B,  397. 
Army,  Industrial, afterwards  named 

Industrial  Union,  192. 
Association  and  union  of  forces,  12. 
Associational  Confei-ences,  131. 

Ballon,  Abbie  S.,  Teacher,  179. 

Ballou,  Adin,  Pastor  of  First  Parish, 
Mendon,  1;  religious  belief,  2; 
Editor  in  Chief  of  Practical  Chris- 
tian, 15 ;  First  President  of  the 
Community,  48;  removal  to 
Hopedale,  63;  farewell  sermon 
at  Mendon,  65;  valedictory  ad- 
dress as  President,  226;  pastor 
of  Hopedale  Parish,  335. 

Ballou,  Adin  Augustus,  entering 
upon  active  life,  222;  natural 
and  acquired  talents,  223;  his 
sudden  and  deeply  lamented 
death,  237. 

Ballou,  Lucy  H.,  Director  of  domes- 
tic affairs,  72. 

Bank  of  Exchange,  274. 


Barns,  Community,  110. 

Beautifying  the  village,  191. 

Beginning  at  Hopedale,  63,  71. 

Benson,  George  W.,  25, 119. 

Bereavements,  156,  235,  237,  244,  245. 

Birthdays  celebrated,  123, 125. 

Blank  Book  Manufactory,  274. 

Board  of  Education  established 
178 ;  report  of  1855,  272. 

Board  of  Trustees  for  the  manage- 
ment of  business,  171. 

Boston  Convention  of  Friends  ot 
Social  Reform,  119. 

Brisbane,  Albert,  Apostle  of  Fou- 
rierism,25. 

Brook  Farm  Community,  24;  cor- 
dial relations  with,  25. 

By-Laws  and  Resolves,  52. 

Cabet,  M.  Etienne,  a  French  Com- 
munist,  214. 

Cause  of  Failure,  Primary,  346;  sec- 
ondary causes,  362. 

Cemetery,  Hopedale,  selected,  143. 

Channing,  Rev.  Wm.  Ellery,  D.  D., 
Letter  from,  42. 

Channing,  Rev.  Wm.  H.,  25,  42,  242, 

Chapel  and  School-house  built,  112. 

Chardon  Street  Chapel,  Boston, 
Property  convention  in,  116. 

Charity  of  Community  members, 
342,  343. 

Children  and  Youth,  Regulation 
concei-ning,  137;  parental  care 
of,  192. 

Christian  Colonies  in  the  West,  Arti- 
cle upon  in  Independent,  257. 

Christian  precepts,  professedly  rev- 
erenced, but  systematically  vio- 
lated, 357. 


412 


THE   HOPEDALE   COMMUNITY. 


Christian  Unionists  in  New  York, 
275. 

Christmas  Festival,  181. 

Church,  a  regenerate  one  needed, 
359. 

Church  at  Hopedale  established, 
331 ;  given  up,  332. 

Church,  The,  serious  defects  of,  355; 
important  nevertheless,  358. 

Circumstances  at  the  outset  of  the 
Community,  71,  75. 

Collins,  John  A.,  Social  Reformer, 
116. 

Combined  Household,  71. 

Comeouters,  25. 

Commune  formed,  281. 

Communion,  Practical  Christian, 
formed,  37. 

Communism,  Tending  towards,  96. 

Communities,  Articles  on,  16,  23; 
distinguishing  features  of,  21 . 

Community  Idea,  Origin  and  growth 
of,  9, 16. 

Community,  The  Hopedale,  origi- 
nally called  Fraternal  Commu- 
nity  No.  1,  formed,  37 ;  first  meet- 
ing of,  38;  second  meeting,  47; 
organized,  48;  third  meeting, 
49;  domain  secured,  53;  location 
named,  54;  affairs  in  1842,  85,  86; 
crisis  reached,  287;  its  doom 
sealed,  289;  disposal  of  its  prop- 
erty, 290;  characteristic  fea- 
tures given  up,  291 ;  in  a  disman- 
tled condition,  298;  its  extinc- 
tion, 333;  only  a  historical  des- 
ignation, 336;  the  story  of  it 
honorable,  365. 

Community  material  wanting  at 
the  present  stage  of  the  world's 
progress,  355. 

Community  system  arraigned,  288. 

Competition,  Spirit  of  adjudged  un- 
christian, 11. 

Complaints  of  neighbors,  172;  satis- 
faction rendered.  173,  209. 

Condition  and  prospects  in  1854, 
254. 

Conference,  Associational  at  Hope- 
dale,  132;  at  Northampton,  132. 

Conferences,  Inductive,  81. 

Conscription,  Case  of,  317;  remon- 
strance and  protest,  318. 


Constitution  of  the  Community, 
first  adopted,  27;  published,  40; 
amended,  98;  superseded,  165; 
again  changed,  208;  final  altera- 
tion, 291;  full  text,  with  By- 
Laws,  Rules  and  Regulations, 
as  revised  in  1853, 368. 

Contingent  Fund,  deficit,  213;  busi- 
ness, 274. 

Convention  at  Boston,  116,  119;  at 
Worcester,  119. 

Co-operative  Associations  in  Com- 
munity industries,  159. 

Cost  the  limit  of  price,  241. 

Council  of  Religion,  Conciliation 
and  Justice,  202 ;  Report  of  1854, 
251. 

Critical  Condition,  97. 

Dean,  Rev.  Paul,  Restorationist 
clergyman,  Attitude  of,  46. 

Declaration  of  principles  and  du- 
ties, 28. 

Decline  of  religious  interest  at 
Hopedale,  330. 

Demoralization  of  Community 
forces,  164. 

Dennis,  Rev.  J.  S.,  interested  in  So- 
cial Reform,  260. 

Depredation,  Instance  of,  123. 

Diary  of  current  events  1842,  76. 

Difficulties  encountered,  22,  73. 

Directory  established,  208. 

Discipline  and  improvement,  Meet- 
ings for,  184. 

Discussions,  omnious,  89;  pro- 
tracted, 95. 

Disgusted  member,  169. 

Domain  accepted,  53;  enlarged,  129, 
194. 

Domestic  economy,  106. 

Douglass,  Frederic,  77,  78, 143. 

Draper,  Anna  T.,  74. 

Draper  Brothers,  not  specially 
blameworthy,  350. 

Draper,  Ebenezer  D.,  elected  Pres- 
ident, 226. 

Draper,  George,  287,  288. 

Dreamers  and  visionaries,  340. 

Dwelling-houses  erected,  106, 107, 129. 

Educational  Home,  Hopedale,  pro- 
jected, 218;  abandoned,  240. 


INDEX. 


413 


Educational  Interests,  178;  subse- 
quent to  1856,  321. 

Elements  of  unrest  fomenting,  87. 

Encouraging  condition  of  Commu- 
nity affairs  1855,  269. 

Ernst,  A.  H.,  Cincinnati,  O.,  Gift 
from,  114. 

Equitable  Commerce  theory,  241. 

Executive  Council,  First  Report  of, 
60. 

Expansion  contemplated,  264. 

Exposition  of  First  Constitution,  40. 

Exposition  of  Faith  published,  15. 

Failure,  not  financial,  346;  moral, 
348;  inevitable  under  existing 
conditions.  352. 

Familiar  Letters,  67. 

Farm  accepted  for  a  Community 
Domain,  53. 

Fast  at  Hopedale,  77. 

Final  adjustment  of  industrial  and 
financial  affairs,  290. 

Final  Community  action,  336. 

First  building  erected,  78. 

First  meeting  of  Fraternal  Commu- 
nity No.  1,  38. 

First  religious  meeting  at  Hope- 
dale,  65. 

Fish,  Eev.  Wm.  H.,  15,  49,  84,  275. 

Founders  of  the  Community,  Facts 
concerning,  337. 

Fourier,  Charles,  a  French  Social 
Philosopher,  25. 

Fourteen  years'  achievements,  344. 

Fraternal  Communion,  Constitution 
of  adopted,  27. 

Fraternal  Community  No.  1,  formed, 
37;  name  changed  to  Hopedale 
Community,  170. 

Freedom  to  preach  Reform  wanted, 
14. 

Free  Love  episode,  246;  Community 
action  upon,  249. 

Friends  of  Social  Reform  met  in 
Convention,  119. 

Godwin,  Parke,  a  Social  Reformer, 
25. 

Great  question  not  settled,  but  post- 
poned, 366. 

Greeley,  Horace,  advocate  of  Social 
Re  form,  25. 

Guaranty  of  Constitution,  178. 


Hall,  Rosetta,  an  interesting  case, 
143. 

Hawkins,  John  H.  W.,  Washing- 
tonian  orator,  78. 

Heywood,  J.  Lowell,  Conscription 
of,  317 ;  protest  of,  318. 

Hopedale  from  the  outside,  276. 

Hopedale  named,  54;  settled,  62;  a 
beautiful  village,  345. 

Hopedale  Community  of  Christian 
origin,  25;  its  meaning  inter- 
preted and  understood  in  a  bet- 
ter future,  367. 

Hopedale  Educational  Home,  218, 
240. 

Hopedale  Home  School  founded, 
268;  suspended,  322. 

Hopedale  Parish  instituted,  333. 

Hopedale  Street,  111. 

House  of  Worship  erected  and  ded- 
icated, 326. 

Humanitarian  spirit  prevailing 
largely,  24. 

Humbug  exploded,  170. 

Hymns,  Hopedale  collection  of,  195. 

Icarian  Community  at  Nauvoo,  Ills., 
214. 

Independent,  N.  Y.,  Suggestive  arti- 
cle in,  257. 

Individualism  checked,  133. 

Individual  rights  respected,  21,  351. 

Individual  Sovereignty,  241. 

Inductive  Communion,  187. 

Inductive  Conferences,  81;  one  at 
Hopedale,  333. 

Industrial  Army,  afterwards  Indus- 
trial Union,  192. 

Industrial  Interests,  108, 183. 

Industrial  Reorganization,  134, 159. 

Industries  in  1855,  269. 

Industries  rented  and  sold,  171. 

Industry,  Purveyance  and  Trade, 
Ordinance  concerning,  217. 

Inharmony,  Humiliating  case  of,  88. 

Insurance  of  Buildings,  etc.,  172. 

Insurance  Company,  217. 

Isolated  Condition,  12. 

Juvenile  Community  formed,  173. 

Kingman,  Joseph,  a  valued  resident, 
leaves  Hopedale,  162. 


414 


THE   HOPEDALE   COMMUNITY. 


Lamson,  Rev.  David  R.,  15,  49,  90,91, 
101, 102. 

Land  Titles,  Rectification  of,  206. 

Last  Record  of  Community  Meet- 
ing, 336. 

Lay  Preaching  encouraged  and  se- 
cured, 185. 

Letters  of  inquiry,  sympathy,  etc., 
41. 

Liberal  Christian  Society  at  Hope- 
dale,  334. 

Lyceum  established,  191. 

Mail  facilities,  190. 
Marital  infidelity,  Case  of,  247. 
Marriage,  First  at  Hopedale,  66. 
May  Festival,  an  interesting  occa- 
sion, 181. 

May,  Rev.  Samuel,  Leicester,  327. 
May,  Rev.  Samuel  J.,  Syracuse,  N. 

Y.,  46. 

Mechanic  shop  built,  108. 
Members  of  Hopedale  Community, 

Estimate  of,  339. 
Membership,  Extent  of  in  1856  and 

later,  305. 

Ministers  after  1856,  325. 
Ministry,  The    Practical  Christian 

instituted,  186. 
Missionary  Movements,  121, 130, 274, 

322,  323. 

Missionaries  shorn  of  power,  293. 
"  Modern  Times,"  241. 
Monitorial  Guide  published,  333. 
Moral  and  Religious  culture,  184. 
Moravians  and  Shakers,  17. 
Mortgage  of  property,  63. 
Mothers    credited     for    time    em- 
ployed, 80. 

Movement  based  on  individual 
rights,  351. 

Name  given  Community  site,  54. 

New  Communities,  Applications 
for,  244,  261. 

New  features  introduced,  281. 

New  House  of  Worship,  326. 

No  foolish  and  wicked  expendi- 
tures, 341. 

Non-resistants  abandon  their  prin- 
ciples, 312. 

Non-resistant  publication  resusci- 
tated, 131. 


North  American  Phalanx,  25. 
Northampton  Community,  25, 133. 

Obstacles  encountei'ed,  22. 

Officers  of  Community  after   1856, 
306. 

Old  Testament  rather  than  the  New 
at  the  front,  323. 

On  the  downward  grade,  291. 

Organ  of  Practical  Christian  Social- 
ists started,  14. 

Organic  Methods  of  Reform  neces- 
sary, 366. 

Original  Members  of  Fraternal 
Community  No.  1,  37. 

Other  Communities,  Relations  to, 
115. 

Outlook  encouraging,  257,  261. 

Owen,  Robert,  English  Communist, 
visit  to  Hopedale,  145;  estimate 
of  the  man,  146. 

Palmy  period,  253. 

Peculiar  people  with  peculiar  ideas, 

9. 

Periodicals,  14, 120. 
Permitted  residents,  Resolves  con- 

cerning,  200. 

Phalansterian  Associations,  25. 
Phalanx,  The  North  American,  25. 
Politico-Civil  Government,  11. 
Practical  Christian  started,  14;  his- 
tory of,  307;  discontinued,  309. 
Practical    Christian    Communion, 

170. 

Practical  Christian  Ministry,  186. 
Practical  Christian  Republic,  262; 

Constitution  of,  397. 
"  Practical    Christian    Socialism  " 

published,  263. 
Practical  Christianity,  Standard  of, 

3 ;  how  received,  9. 
Precepts  of  Christ  systematically 

set  at  naught,  357. 
President's  Addresses,  151,  250,  271, 

284. 

Profound  disappointment,  289. 
Promulgation  Society  formed,  309. 
Property  Convention  in  Boston,  116. 
Prosperous  days,  223. 
Provisional  Committee  of  Commu- 
nity at  the  outset,  39. 


INDEX. 


415 


Quarterly  Conferences,  188. 
Quincy,   Edmund,    a   notable    Re- 
former, 47. 

Radical  changes  in  organization 
and  government,  159. 

Raritan  Bay  Union,  242. 

Real  Estate  Trustees,  208. 

Rebellion,  War  of  foreshadowed, 
267 ;  resolutions  concerning,  314 ; 
their  effect,  316. 

Recapitulation  of  notable  facts  and 
features,  337. 

Reform  preaching,  Opposition  to 
causes  embarrassment,  13. 

Relations  to  other  Communities,  115. 

Relief  Committee  established,  201. 

Religious  interests  and  institutions, 
Summary  of,  323. 

Religious  meeting,  first  one  at 
Hopedale,  65. 

Remuneration  for  religious  ser- 
vices, 325. 

Report  of  Board  of  Education,  1855, 
27-2. 

Report  of  Council,  1854,  251. 

Republic,  Practical  Christian,  262. 

Residents,  alien,  Action  concerning, 
200. 

Residents,  Number  of  April  1, 1842, 
71. 

Restorationist  Association,  2;  pro- 
gressive wing,  3. 

Restorationist  Denomination,  Pros- 
pects of  blasted,  46. 

Ripley,  Rev.  George,  leading  spirit 
at  Brook  Farm,  24,  25. 

Savings  Bank,  Community  Treas- 
ury a,  194. 

School  affairs,  130;  District,  Hope- 
dele  a,  174;  House  and  Chapel, 
112. 

Scylla  and  Charybdis,  97. 

Second  Advent,  Pamphlet  on,  122. 

Serious  alternative,  96. 

Settlement  at  Hopedale,  62. 

Shakers  and  Moravians,  17. 

Smith,  Gerritt,  statesman  and  phil- 
anthropist, 47,  275. 

Social  Reform,  Clergymen  upon, 
259;  convention,  119;  meetings, 
23. 


"Socialism,    Practical    Christian," 

published,  263. 

Stacy,  Rev.  George  W.,  15,  47, 148. 
Standard  of  Practical  Christianity, 

3;  reception  of,  9. 
Startling  revelation,  287. 
Status  in  1856,  297. 
Streets  located  and  named,  128. 
Sunday  meeting,  first  at  Hopedale, 


Test  of  fitness  for  Community  life, 

70. 
Three   fundamental   objections  to 

Society  as  it  is,  10. 
Tilden,    Rev.   Wm.   P.,    Unitarian 

clergyman,  46. 
Transcendentalists    in   and   about 

Boston,  24. 
Trustees  under  new   Constitution, 

171 ;  of  Real  Estate,  208. 

Unitarian  Ministry,  Attitude  of,  46. 
Universalist  Ministiy,  Attitude  of 
46. 

Valedictory  Address  of  First  Presi- 
dent, 226;  response,  234. 

War  system,  Opposition  to,  10. 

Water  Cure  establishment,  204. 

Wattles,  John  O.,  founder  of  a  Com- 
munity at  the  West,  116. 

Weld,  Theodore  D.,  a  well-known 
Abolitionist  and  teacher,  243. 

Western  movement,  265,  266,  276, 
277,  295. 

West  India  Emancipation  cele- 
brated, 266. 

What  remained  after  the  crisis  of 
1856,  299. 

Whitney,  Rev.  Daniel  S.,  15,  66, 181, 
203. 

Whittemore,  Rev.  Thomas,  D.  D., 
Kind  words  from,  310. 

Wilmarth,  Butler,  M.  D.,  76,  204,  245. 

Women  in  the  Community,  Fidelity 
of,  74. 

Woon socket  Patriot  on  Hopedale, 
276. 

Worcester  Convention,  119. 

Words  of  cheer  amid  defeat,  302, 
303. 


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